Power sector is hallmark of Indo-Bangla cooperation, says Bangladesh envoy

New Delhi [India], March 19 (ANI): Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali on Tuesday here said that energy sector cooperation is the hallmark in the renewed engagements between the two neighbouring countries.
"There is positive momentum in cooperation between our two countries in the power sector and the achievements so far have been highly encouraging," the envoy told an International Conference on the 'India’s Energy Security: Inter-regional Cooperation to Energy Security Society'.
Held at the Centre for South Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, the conference was presided over by Professor Bhardwaj, the Chairman of the Centre for South Asian Studies.
Syed Muazzem said the engagement in power sector has expanded under the farsighted leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, read the press release from the Bangladesh High Commission.
“It is a matter of great pleasure that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have taken the partnership between the two countries far beyond a strategic partnership, touching upon virtually all areas of human endeavour," he said.
Stating that presently Bangladesh’s import from India stands at 1160 MW, the envoy said, "We are happy that Bangladesh and India are experiencing very substantive cooperation in the energy sector."
He further said that New Delhi and Dhaka are now cooperating on renewable energy and nuclear power.
Bangladesh has entered the era of Nuclear Power on November 30, 2017, with the inauguration of the construction of the 2400 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant in Pabna, which would be built with Russian and Indian collaboration, he said.
The development of the Rooppur power plant is India’s first ever nuclear venture in the neighbourhood, where it will be providing technical assistance to Bangladesh.
Syed Muazzem said that the two neighbouring nations are also moving to the sub-regional cooperation.
A trilateral investment of 1125 MW hydro-power project in Bhutan, by Bangladesh, India and Bhutan is also under discussion, the envoy stated.
Syed Muazzem also added that another trilateral Hydro-power project in Nepal by Bangladesh, India and Nepal is also under consideration and an MoU with GMR, India and Bangladesh was signed in April 2017 for import of 500 MW power from Nepal to Bangladesh. (ANI)