Delhi-Dhaka to discuss Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
India and Bangladesh have unveiled US$2 billion Maitree power plant. It was part of the projects and MoUs announced on 6 Sept 2022 following Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to New Delhi.
The unveiling of the first unit of Maitree Thermal Power Plant on 6 Sept 2022 will increase the availability of affordable electricity in Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on announcing the mega project.
The 1,320 (660×2) MW super critical coal-fired thermal power plant at Rampal, Khulna. It has US$1.6 billion as Indian Development Assistance under Concessional Financing Scheme.
Fruitful talks are also underway between the two countries on connecting power transmission lines, said the Indian Prime Minister.
The inauguration of the railway bridge over the Rupsha River is a remarkable step towards enhancing connectivity.
“This bridge is an important part of the new railway line being built between Khulna and Mongla Port under India’s Line of Credit.
“India will continue to extend all support for the development and expansion of Bangladesh’s railway system.”
Welcoming the Prime Minister of Bangladeshi, Modi announced, “We will soon start discussions on the Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement to further accelerate this growth.
“With the expansion of connectivity between our two countries, and the development of trade infrastructure on the border, the two economies will be able to connect more with each other, support each other.
“Our bilateral trade is growing rapidly. Today, India is the largest market in Asia for Bangladesh’s exports.”
Modi went on, “We also decided to increase cooperation in sectors like IT, space and nuclear energy, which are of interest to our younger generations.
“We will also continue to cooperate on climate change and on preserving a common heritage like the Sundarbans.”
List of other projects:
The US$312.48 million Khulna Darshana railway line link project. The project is upgradation of existing (doubling of Broad Gauge) infrastructure linking the current cross border rail link at Gede-Darshana to Khulna thereby augmenting the rail connections between the two countries, especially to Dhaka, but also in future to Mongla Port.
The US$120.41 million Parbatipur-Kaunia railway line. The conversion of the existing Metre Gauge line to Dual Gauge line project, connecting to the existing cross border rail at Birol (Bangladesh)-Radhikapur (West Bengal) and will enhance bilateral rail connectivity.
Inauguration of Rupsha bridge. The 5.13 km Rupsha rail bridge is a key part of the 64.7 km Khulna-Mongla Port single-track broad gauge rail project, connecting for the first time Mongla Port with Khulna by rail, and thereafter to Central and North Bangladesh and also to the India border at Petrapole and Gede in West Bengal.
Supply of road construction equipment and machinery. The project consists of supply of road maintenance and construction equipment and machinery in 25 packages to Bangladesh Road and Highways Department.
The MoUs:
MoU was signed between the Ministry of Jal Shakti and Bangladesh’s Ministry of Water Resources on withdrawal of Water by India and Bangladesh from common border river Kushiyara.
MoU was signed between the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board), and the Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh, on training of Bangladesh Railway personnel in India.
MoU was signed between the Ministry of Railways (Railway Board) and the Ministry of Railways, Bangladesh, on Collaboration in IT systems such as FOIS and other IT applications for Bangladesh Railway.
MoU was signed between the National Judicial Academy, India and the Supreme court of Bangladesh on Training and Capacity Building Programe for Bangladesh Judicial Officers in India.
MoU was signed on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR), India and Bangladesh Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (BCSIR).
MoU was signed on Cooperation in the Areas of Space Technology.
MoU between the Prasar Bharti and Bangladesh Television (BTV) on Cooperation in Broadcasting. fiinews.com
