, March 23 -- The government has decided to increase fuel imports by 25 percent in the course of the current year to tackle potential supply disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Energy Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said on Monday.

"Despite global concerns over fuel supply, there is no immediate crisis in Bangladesh. As a precautionary measure, the government has decided to raise fuel imports by 25 percent," Iqbal told reporters at his residence in Dhaka in the afternoon.

The minister said vessels carrying sufficient fuel supplies are arriving at ports, and the government is maintaining strict vigilance to ensure uninterrupted distribution across the country.

Highlighting the government's subsidy efforts, the m...