Dhaka, March 11 -- Bangladesh Wednesday formally requested a temporary waiver of United States sanctions to import energy from Russia to mitigate fuel crunch amid the Middle East tensions triggered by US-Israel war on Iran.

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury conveyed the request to US Ambassador Brent T. Christensen during a courtesy meeting at the minister's office in Dhaka's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

"The US has already granted a waiver to India, allowing it to temporarily purchase Russian oil. Bangladesh is seeking a similar waiver," the minister told journalists after the meeting.

If India was given this opportunity, he hopes, Bangladesh should also be considered, as it would provide significant support to the country, which ...