Bangladesh-India

Photo: PID

3 projects to be inaugurated during Hasina's visit to India

Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma announced this during a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at Ganabhaban on Tuesday.

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told reporters in a briefing after the meeting. Maitri Super Thermal Power Plant-II, and the 65 km Khulna-Mongla Port railway link were implemented under the Indian LoC (Line of Credit), while the Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala (India) railway links were constructed with Indian grants.

The Prime Minister thanked the Government of India for allowing Bangladesh to import 40 MW of electricity from Nepal through the Indian grid and hoped that India would also allow them to import power from Bhutan through its grid.

In the meeting, satisfaction was expressed over the state of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India.

The meeting also discussed the taka-rupee exchange system between Bangladesh and India, connectivity, ongoing projects and grants under the Indian LoC, etc.

The Indian High Commissioner mentioned about the Taka-Rupee exchange system, two types of cards will be issued like credit cards. One is a Rupee card and the other is a Taka card. He said, "Both sides will issue these cards so that people of both countries can use these cards for their payments."

The Prime Minister said that a large number of Bangladeshis visit India for various purposes and they can use the card.

The Indian High Commissioner lauded Prime Minister's initiatives to transform Bangladesh into a smart country through Vision-2021 and Vision-2041 initiatives, saying, "They have generated a very positive response."

Sheikh Hasina expressed hope that India will raise its voice especially for the Global South along with the entire world at the G-20 summit in Delhi. Prime Minister's Ambassador at Large Mohammad Ziauddin, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Deputy High Commissioner of India Dr. Vinay George were present at the time.