Govt might import fuel oil from Brunei

Bangladesh has advanced the discussion on importing fuel oil from Brunei, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday.

"Brunei has enough oil, gas, and LNG… Hopefully, we will be importing energy from them in a systematic and regular way," he said.

He made the comment at a press briefing at the foreign ministry on the occasion of the first-ever state visit of Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah.

Sultan Hassanal will be visiting Bangladesh on October 15-17, reciprocating Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's first state visit to the Southeast Asian country in April 2019.

Momen said Bangladesh was thinking about importing energy from Malaysia and Indonesia too.

"We are keeping all options open. We are working on this," he said.

During the visit of the Brunei Sultan, the two countries may sign at least three memorandums of understanding on introducing direct flights between Bangladesh and Brunei; labour recruitment and recognition of sailors' certificates.

Around 20,000 Bangladeshis currently work in Brunei, but the number of recruitments came down recently. Between January 2020 and August 2022, only 950 were recruited.

Officials said Brunei was eager to recruit workers through a state-owned recruiting agent, Bangladesh Overseas Employment Services Ltd (BOESL), to streamline the recruitment process against the backdrop of irregularities in the past.

The proposal for a direct flight between the two countries has already been approved by the Bangladesh cabinet, Momen said.

Direct flight can improve Bangladesh's export to Brunei as well as reduce migration costs, officials said.

Momen said Brunei is eager to source halal food from Bangladesh. Especially, the Sultan likes the Black Bengal goat of Bangladesh.

He said Brunei, which is heavily dependent on food imports, wants Bangladesh to provide expertise to Brunei in fish and agriculture, especially fish and shrimp.

MoUs on these matters were also signed in 2019.

Also, Brunei is an important member of ASEAN and Bangladesh is eager to become a sectoral dialogue partner to ASEAN as well as seek its support in Rohingya repatriation.

"We hope for a fruitful visit by the Brunei Sultan."

President Abdul Hamid will receive the Brunei Sultan, his family members, cabinet members and officials at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on October 15.

He will visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhaka's Dhanmondi 32 and National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar.

The Sultan will hold meetings with President Abdul Hamid and attend a banquet hosted by the president.

He will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.