Four vessels carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) and two vessels transporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have already crossed the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman and are on their way to Bangladesh before any announcement regarding a possible closure of the strait, the Ministry of Energy said.
Two vessels-Al Zour and Al Jassasiya-carrying around 126,000 tonnes of LNG from Qatar have already arrived at Chattogram Port.
In addition, an LPG carrier named Sevan is scheduled to arrive on Sunday. Two more LNG vessels-Al Galayel and Lusail-are expected to reach the port waters on Wednesday and Monday respectively.
Altogether, the four LNG vessels are carrying about 247,000 tonnes of LNG, according to the ministry.
The ships departed from Ras Laffan Port and crossed the Strait of Hormuz two to seven days before tensions escalated in the region, the ministry said.
Quoting Md Nurul Alam, senior deputy general manager of Uni Global Business Limited, a Petrobangla official said on Saturday that the arrival of the four vessels at Chattogram Port is almost certain.
However, another LNG carrier named Liberal is currently inside the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel has already loaded LNG and is waiting to cross the strait, raising uncertainty over future consignments.
"To avoid supply shortages amid the ongoing tensions, the government has also purchased LNG from the spot market at higher prices through two additional vessels, which have not yet reached the port," the official said.
Since February 28, tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have escalated following conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, raising concerns about disruptions to global energy supply.
Nearly one-fifth of the world's oil and LNG shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz, making it one of the world's most critical energy transit routes.
Bangladesh conducts trade with several Gulf countries-including Iraq, Iran, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia-through this strategic route.
Ships travel from the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, then across the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal before reaching Bangladesh.
