BD agrees to provide power corridor to India

Dhaka and New Delhi have agreed in principle to explore possibility of developing an interconnection for electricity transmission line involving Bangladesh and India’s northeastern and northwestern side.

This agreement in principle came at the 7th meeting of the Joint Steering Committee on Power Sector Cooperation held at a local hotel on Thursday.

As per the decision of the meeting, Bangladesh has agreed to provide corridor to use its land for electricity transmission from India’s northeastern side to northwestern side.

Bangladesh Power Secretary Monwar Islam and Indian Power Secretary Prodeep Kumar Sinha led their respective side at the meeting.

Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran was present at the meeting.

Indian power secretary PK  Sinha told the press that the inter-connection transmission line will be capable of carrying 6000 MW of power for long-run and Bangladesh can also benefit from the interconnection line as there will be tapping point for Bangladesh.

PK  Sinha said, "..A very historic decision has been taken by both side to explore the possibility of interconnection between north-eastern part of India and Bangladesh right through to India,”

Officials informed that Arunachal-Assam-Barapukuria-Bihar route was selected for the best option where an 800kV transmission line will be built.

Supporting the statement of his counterpart, Bangladesh power secretary Monwar Islam said the decision was taken as part of Bangladesh plan for promoting regional interconnectivity.

Monwar Islam, however, declined to discuss whether Bangladesh would be used as transit point for Indian power transmission from eastern side to western side.