Bhutanese king meets Khaleda

Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck meets Opposition Leader and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Hotel Sonargaon in the capital yesterday. Photo: BNP

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck yesterday said his country was ready to export hydroelectricity to Bangladesh if the lacks in the latter's infrastructure were removed.
He said this during a call on BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia in the capital's Sonargaon Hotel.
“Bhutan is not only self-sufficient in hydroelectricity. It also has a surplus that we can export to our friendly neighbouring country Bangladesh,” BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury, who accompanied Khaleda, quoted the king.
On August 10, 2010, a delegation of Bhutan Exporters Association, citing an example that 1,200 megawatts of electricity was exported to India, recommended that Bangladesh had an opportunity to import hydroelectricity from Bhutan.
Information available online shows that Bhutan produces 1,500 MW of electricity against an internal demand for only 300 MW and aims to produce 10,000 MW of hydroelectricity.
The king and Khaleda also discussed the scope of increasing cooperation between the two countries, Shamsher, a former foreign secretary, told journalists after the meeting.
The king enquired Kheleda of her visits to India and China last year. The BNP vice-chairman, however, did not elaborate what the opposition leader said in reply.
The king and Queen Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck invited the BNP chief to Bhutan.
The king and queen of Bhutan arrived in Dhaka on Thursday on a five-day private visit.
This is the king's second visit to Bangladesh in less than two years. His first visit was in March 2011. However, this is the first visit of the queen. They are scheduled to leave Dhaka on Tuesday.