Development projects in Bangladesh are being carried out on the basis of discussions: Randhir Jaiswal

New Delhi has dismissed the fear of cancellation of ongoing development projects funded by India in Bangladesh. India said that India's development cooperation program in the country is being carried out on the basis of mutual discussions and consent of the two countries and it will continue in the same process in the future.

Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said this in response to questions from journalists at the weekly briefing of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi on Tuesday (July 14).

When asked about the uncertainty that arose over the future of various development projects funded by India after the political changes in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, Randhir Jaiswal said, "The development cooperation programs we have in Bangladesh have been taken on the basis of mutual discussions between the two countries and the matter is still going on as usual."

He said that the development projects in Bangladesh are being carried out under a jointly approved roadmap, which the two countries regularly review.

According to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Bangladesh is one of India's largest development partners. In the past few years, India has provided three lines of credit worth about $8 billion to Bangladesh for the development of infrastructure, roads, railways, waterways and ports.

With India's assistance, several major projects have been implemented in Bangladesh, including the Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link, the railway up to Mongla Port, the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant and the India-Bangladesh Maitree Pipeline.

In addition, India is implementing 93 development projects at the local level in the education, health, vocational training and social security sectors at a cost of more than $50 million.

The cooperation between the two countries is also continuing in the energy sector. Under this, electricity is being regularly imported from India to Bangladesh.

Randhir Jaiswal said that the development cooperation activities of the two countries are being carried out on the basis of mutual interest and understanding. He expressed the hope that these projects will be taken forward in the future as well, in line with historical and geographical relations.