During the state visit of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India, a slew of projects were unveiled and seven MoUs signed between the two countries on September 6.
- The two sides signed seven agreements covering railways, science and technology, space cooperation, media, and water sharing.
Key Highlights
Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurated the first unit of the 1320 MW (660×2 MW) Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant at Rampal in Khulna district of Bangladesh.
- The USD 2 billion power plant is being built with USD 1.6 billion as Indian Development Assistance under Concessional Financing Scheme.
Rupsha rail bridge
- The two leaders also inaugurated the 5.13 kilometre long Rupsha rail bridge built under the concession Line of Credit (LOC) provided by India.
- The bridge is a key part of the 64.7 kilometre long Khulna-Mongla port single track broad gauge rail project.
- Once completed, the rail line would help increase the connectivity of Mongla Port, the 2nd largest port of Bangladesh, and provide an alternate route for rail and maritime trade.
- It would also allow other countries in the region to use the port and boost sub-regional trade.
Khulna Darshana railway line link project
- The Khulna Darshana railway line link project which involves upgradation of the existing infrastructure linking the current cross border rail link at Gede-Darshana to Khulna was also announced during the visit.
- It will augment the rail connections between the two countries, especially to Dhaka, but also in future to Mongla Port.
- The project cost is estimated at USD 312.48 million, said an official press release of PIB enumerating the list of projects inaugurated, announced or unveiled.
Metre Gauge line to Dual Gauge line
- Another railway project estimated to cost USD 120.41 million for the conversion of the existing Metre Gauge line to Dual Gauge line between Parbatipur and Kaunia was also announced.
- The project will connect to the existing cross border rail at Birol (Bangladesh)-Radhikapur (West Bengal) and will enhance bilateral rail connectivity.
Katihar-Bornagar transmission line
- The two countries agreed to expeditiously implement the proposed high capacity 765 KV transmission line from Katihar in Bihar to Bornagar in Assam through Parbatipur in Bangladesh.
Kushiyara water sharing agreement
- The two sides, however, made a significant beginning in river-water sharing by reaching an agreement — a first in 28 years — on drawing water from the common border river Kushiyara for supplying to parts of lower Assam as well as Sylhet in Bangladesh.
- Previously, the Ganga water treaty was signed between Bangladesh and India in 1996.
- The Kushiyara River is a distributary river in Bangladesh and Assam, India.
- It forms on the India-Bangladesh border as a branch of the Barak River, when the Barak separates into the Kushiyara and Surma.
CEPA
- India and Bangladesh will soon commence negotiations on a Bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
- India is the largest market in Asia for Bangladesh’s exports.
