Dhaka, April 4 -- A state-owned petroleum company of Qatar is reluctant to sell fertiliser to Bangladesh in the next fiscal year because of delayed payment, sources said.

Qatar Energy recently informed that it would not sign any contract for the fiscal year 2025-26 due to the delay in receiving payments for the 6th, 7th and 8th lots of fertilizer. The payments were delayed by 3 days, 7 days and 13 days respectively.

According to Janata Bank, the payment for the last 9th lot of 12.50 million tonnes of fertiliser from Qatar Energy Marketing, Qatar was due on March 14 last.

On March 20, the industries ministry requested the finance ministry and the Bangladesh Bank (BB) to take necessary steps for making the payment immediately under the G...