Deal on importing hydropower from Nepal at final stage
Bangladesh, Nepal and India are at the final stage of confirming a deal that will allow Bangladesh to import hydropower from the Himalayan state, said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday.
"Three countries agreed on it. We are close to the final stage. We will buy electricity from Nepal. In winter, we can sell electricity when we have surplus," he said at a press conference on the meetings with Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari, Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday.
Bangladesh signed an MoU with Nepal in 2018 to oversee investment, development and trade in hydroelectricity between the two countries. Under this arrangement, Bangladesh will import up to 9,000 MW of hydropower from Nepal by 2040.
Initially, Bangladesh sought to buy hydropower from Nepal's Karnali Hydropower Project through GMR Group, an Indian company. However, as Indian power grid should be used for transmission of power, a trilateral agreement is required, said officials of the Power Division.
An official of the Power Division yesterday told this correspondent that the power ministry has sent a power purchase agreement to the law ministry for vetting. Once done, this has to be endorsed by Nepal. Then, the issue of power grid needs to be settled with India as it has to be transmitted through India.
Bangladesh has also been in favour of investing in Nepal's hydropower sector.
"We were working to identify the projects. We have already visited Nepal several times to identify projects. Due to the pandemic, the work has been slow," the official said.
Both Dhaka and Kathmandu have stressed on extended cooperation hydropower, Minister Momen said.
Experts say as Bangladesh will need more energy, and that too from renewable sources. Nepal, Bhutan and Northeastern Indian states could be the major sources of hydropower.
Momen said Nepal and Bangladesh stressed on trade and connectivity during the meeting. A Preferential Trade Agreement is also at the final stage and is likely to be signed soon.
The government wants to turn Bangladesh as the multimodal connectivity hub between South and Southeast Asia. As part of it, various initiatives are underway to widen connectivity network with landlocked Nepal.
As an addition to the Protocol of the Nepal-Bangladesh Transit Agreement signed in 1976, a letter of exchange has been signed between the two countries to include Rohanpur-Singhabad Rail Link.
Nepal is also interested in using Chattogram, Mongla and Payra sea ports. Bangladesh has agreed to work on the modalities for this during the visit of Nepalese president.
Nepal has also expressed its interest to use inland waterways of Bangladesh. Besides, Nepal is also interested in using the Saidpur Airport for direct flights with Viratnagar.
"Bangladesh is open to it. We want to facilitate connectivity," Momen said.
He said Bangladesh and India have already agreed to sign passenger protocol under the BBIN. Nepal is expected to give nod to it at the soonest, he added.
For implementing the Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal, options of some new routes other than the existing ones are being explored, he said.
In response to a question, State Minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam said Nepal and India in principle agreed for MVA. As the Bhutan parliament has yet to agree on it, the three countries will go forward.
Biden, Putin to give messages
Momen said Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message on the occasion of Bangladesh's golden jubilee of independence and Mujib Borsho. Besides, US President Joe Biden will also deliver a message.
Prime ministers from Canada, Japan, Cambodia, as well as the Chinese President, and UK Queen Elizabeth II have given greeting messages on the occasion.
Besides, presidents of France, Germany, Italy, UAE and and the Prime Minister and King of Spain will also give messages.
"We are very lucky that so many world leaders are joining our celebrations," Momen said.
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