Bangladesh–India Joint Steering Committee on power meets in Dhaka

The 19th meeting of the Bangladesh–India Joint Steering Committee (BIJSC) on power sector was held at a hotel in Dhaka on Saturday.

The meeting reviewed the progress of various ongoing projects related to the power sector cooperation between the two neighbours and expressed hope for further cooperation, said a handout from the Ministry of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.

Bangladesh's Power Secretary Habibur Rahman and his Indian counterpart Sanjiv Nandan Sahai led their respective sides in the meeting.

The progress about construction of the second transmission line beside the current situation of import of electricity from India through Bheramara and Bharampur inter-connection system was apprised in the meeting.

Apart from it, the meeting also reviewed implementation of the proposed Katihar-Parbatipur 765 kV transmission line.

It discussed the Indian power import-export guidelines and regulations, giving waiver of taxes, customs duty and value added tax (VAT) facilities in import of electricity from India and also exemption from financial losses due to political reasons or change in Indian laws.

The BIJSC also discussed the progress on the import of electricity through India from Indian GMR's hydropower plant in Nepal and also the joint investment of Bangladesh, India and Bhutan in hydropower project in Bhutan.

The meeting expressed satisfaction over the implementation progress of the under-construction 1,320MW Moiytree Super Thermal Power Plant in Rampal amid the Covid-19 situation and hoped the cooperation in power sector between Bangladesh and India would continue.

A working group meeting of the two neighbouring nations was also held in the same place, said the ministry handout.