India, Bangladesh launched three major connectivity, energy projects

India, Bangladesh launched three major connectivity, energy projects

NewDelhi/Beuro

At a virtual event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly unveiled the projects.

On Wednesday, India and Bangladesh officially opened three significant energy and connectivity projects constructed with Indian aid, one of which is a railway line that would establish the first-ever connection between the northeastern states of their respective countries.

Together, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi colleague Sheikh Hasina unveiled three projects at a virtual ceremony: unit II of the Maitree super thermal power plant, the Khulna-Mongla port rail route, and the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link.

This development coincides with growing pressure on Hasina to guarantee free and fair elections early in the new year from opposition parties in Bangladesh and certain Western countries. India has become Bangladesh’s biggest development partner during the Modi administration, with a portfolio of about $10 billion in grants and concessional loans.

Speaking at the event, Modi emphasized the need of both nations building connectivity and infrastructure to fulfill the ambitions of their citizens. He also mentioned that in the last nine years, both had introduced three new bus lines and as many rail services. According to him, in 2022, they also started container and package trains and built four new immigration checkpoints.