On November 1, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are set to jointly inaugurate three significant development projects in Bangladesh. These initiatives, developed with assistance from India, aim to enhance connectivity and energy security in the border regions of the two neighboring nations.
Virtual Inauguration Ceremony
The inaugural ceremony will be conducted via video conferencing, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs. The collaborative efforts between the two countries represent a significant step towards regional development.
The Three Key Projects
- Akhaura-Agartala Cross Border Rail Link: This project, with a government grant of Rs 392.52 crore from India to Bangladesh, includes a 12.24 km-long rail link. It consists of a 6.78 km Dual Gauge rail line in Bangladesh and a 5.46 km segment in Tripura, India. The rail link is expected to boost cross-border connectivity.
- Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line: Funded through a concessional Line of Credit from the Indian government with a total project cost of $388.92 million, this project involves the construction of approximately 65 km of broad-gauge rail route connecting the Mongla Port with the existing rail network in the Khulna region of Bangladesh. This development will greatly enhance the connectivity of the second-largest port in Bangladesh, Mongla, to the broad-gauge railway network.
- Unit-II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant: The Maitree Super Thermal Power Project, a 1320 MW (2×660) Super Thermal Power Plant located in Rampal in the Khulna Division of Bangladesh, was executed under an Indian Concessional Financing Scheme loan of $1.6 billion. This project is implemented by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Private) Limited (BIFPCL), a 50:50 Joint Venture between India’s NTPC Ltd and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). The inauguration of Unit-II will further strengthen energy security in Bangladesh, building upon the successful inauguration of Unit-I in September 2022.
