PM wants Indo-Bangla joint venture
She tells outgoing Indian High Commissioner Pankaj
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed developing Ganges Barrage on the Padma River in Bangladesh under a joint venture project between Bangladesh and India.
She came up with the view when outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran met her at her office.
After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters.
The government has already completed the feasibility study and design of the proposed 2.1km long Ganges Barrage Project at Pangsha in Rajbari, some 98km downstream from the Farakka Barrage built in Pashchimbanga, India.
The proposed project has a reservoir to augment the flow of water and its equal distribution, in both dry and rainy seasons, over the Ganges-dependent area. The project will meet the demand of Ganges water for agriculture, fisheries, ecosystem and navigation.
About US$4 billion is needed to implement the project.
Once the project is implemented, the feasibility study says, agricultural production in the Ganges-dependent area will increase while additional paddy production would be about 26 lakh metric tonnes, minimising the loss of paddy significantly. Additional fish production would be about 2.4 lakh metric tonnes.
Hasina expressed satisfaction over the smooth implementation of Land Boundary Agreement and its protocol on both sides.
Appreciating Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, Hasina thanked the Indian government for its cooperation with Bangladesh in energy sector. “Now we would like to go to the next step which is sub-regional cooperation,” she said.
Referring to India's eagerness on developing Paira and other Deep Sea ports in Bangladesh, Hasina said her government has taken the due note of India's interest.
About the ongoing discussion between India's Oil Company and Petro Bangla of Bangladesh over the construction of LPG Terminal and transportation of LPG to Tripura through Bangladesh, Hasina said her government is examining India's proposal.
Pankaj Saran praised Hasina's leadership in bolstering the bilateral ties and said an immigration check-post in Fulbari in Kurigram is ready to be opened.
Besides, he said, an integrated immigration check-post is being set up at Petrapole, India.