Page 38 - NIS English 16-30,April 2023

International India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline

INDIA-BANGLADESH FRIENDSHIP PIPELINE INAUGURATED

BEGINNING OF A NEW CHAPTER IN

INDIA-BANGLADESH

RELATIONS

Bangladesh is an important part of India's "neighbourhood first" policy. In the last nine years, India-
Bangladesh relations have improved. To increase cooperation between the two countries at all levels,
both countries' top leaders' strong political will and willingness to collaborate must be clearly visible.
To take it a step further, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship
Pipeline, ushering in a new chapter in the two countries' relations. The pipeline's foundation stone
was laid in September 2018. The supply of high-speed diesel via this new pipeline will not only benefit
agriculture and industries, but will also lower supply costs and reduce the carbon footprint.

FIRST CROSS-BORDER ENERGY PIPELINE
BETWEEN INDIA AND BANGLADESH

It is the first cross-border energy pipeline
between India and Bangladesh. The total cost
of this pipeline is Rs 377 crores. The Bangladesh
portion of this pipeline cost approximately Rs
285 crore and was borne by the Government
of India under grant-in-aid. The pipeline can
ndia is a key development partner for Bangladesh. transport one million metric tonnes of high-
IOver the years, India has contributed the most to speed diesel (HSD) per year. In the beginning, it
infrastructure development of any single country. will provide high-speed diesel to seven districts
in northern Bangladesh. The completion of the
Bilateral trade between India and Bangladesh India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline will provide
totalled $ 10.8 billion in 2020-2021, rising to $ 18.2 a long-term, dependable, cost-effective, and eco
billion in 2021-2022. Both countries are making friendly means of transporting HSD from India to
progress towards the Comprehensive Economic Bangladesh.
Partnership Agreement, which will boost exports.
India and Bangladesh have greatly improved the electricity grid, or the digital sector, the more
connectivity by constructing a network of roads, connected we are, the better our people-to-people
railways, inland waterways, and ports. Cooperation relations will be.
in the power and energy sectors is becoming India is currently supplying over 1100 MW of power
increasingly important in India-Bangladesh to Bangladesh. The first unit of the Maitri Super
relations. On March 18, PM Narendra Modi Thermal Power Plant has been commissioned, and
inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship work on the second unit is now underway. "In terms
Pipeline, which strengthens it, saying, "I am of energy cooperation, our petroleum trade has
confident that this pipeline will further accelerate crossed $1 billion," Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Bangladesh's development and will also be an said at the event. Our collaboration extends across
excellent example of increasing connectivity the entire hydrocarbon value chain. It doesn't
between the two countries." We must continue matter if it's upstream, midstream, or downstream.
to strengthen each pillar of our connectivity. This collaboration will become more extensive as a
Whether it is in the field of transportation, energy, result of the pipeline.

36 New India Samachar April 16-30, 2023