A bilateral meeting on electricity cooperation was held between Bangladesh and India on 4 January 2023 in New Delhi, India. Mr. Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources of the Government of Bangladesh, and Mr. Raj Kumar Singh, Minister for Power, New and Renewable Energy of the Government of India, led the delegations.

The meeting discussed

• Indian cooperation for importing hydropower from Bhutan and Nepal, as expressed by Mr. Hamid, as well as trilateral agreements to invest in Nepal to expand their renewable sector;
• Interest among Indian private companies to export renewable energy to Bangladesh; and
• Continued growth of Bangladesh's power sector and increasing demand for electricity in the country.

Mr. Hamid noted that Bangladesh wants to import more electricity in addition to the 1,160MW of electricity imported from India. He remarked that if power can be imported from Assam, uninterrupted supply to northern Bangladesh can be ensured.

Mr. Kumar remarked that India can supply more electricity to the northern part of Bangladesh. He also assured cooperation regarding electricity import from Nepal, and underscored that Bangladesh and India can move forward together for the development of Bangladesh's electricity sector.

The issues discussed in the meeting will be further examined and decided at the next Joint Steering Committee to be held in February, according to the news report.

Related links

Bangladesh for 'visible' Indian cooperation over hydropower imports from Nepal, Bhutan

India assures Bangladesh of providing energy support: Nasrul Hamid