On November 1, 2023, at approximately 11 AM, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Bangladesh H.E. Sheikh Hasina, will jointly inaugurate three significant Indian-assisted development projects via video conferencing. These projects, fostering regional connectivity and energy security, include the Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link, the Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line, and Unit-II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant.
Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link: Implemented under the Government of India grant assistance, this project, valued at INR 392.52 crore, boasts a total length of 12.24 km, featuring 6.78 km of dual-gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura.
Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line: This project, carried out under the Government of India concessional Line of Credit with a total project cost of USD 388.92 million, encompasses the construction of approximately 65 km of broad gauge rail route connecting Mongla Port with the existing rail network in Khulna, thus linking Mongla, Bangladesh’s second-largest port, with the broad-gauge railway network.
Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant: Financed through the Indian Concessional Financing Scheme, this 1320 MW (2×660) Super Thermal Power Plant in Rampal, Khulna Division, Bangladesh, represents a landmark in energy collaboration. It is a 50:50 Joint Venture between India’s NTPC Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). Unit I of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant was unveiled in September 2022, and the inauguration of Unit 2 on November 1, 2023, will bolster energy security in Bangladesh.
These projects are poised to enhance regional connectivity and energy security, strengthening the ties between India and Bangladesh.