India will assist Bangladesh in importing hydropower from Bhutan

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that India will assist Bangladesh in importing hydropower from Bhutan just like it helped import hydropower from Nepal.

He made the revelation to journalists after meeting with Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck at the Intercontinental Hotel in the capital on Monday (March 25) noon.

Bangladesh wants to import hydropower from Bhutan and a tripartite agreement is needed to bring power through India, he said.

The foreign minister said no agreement will be signed during the Bhutanese king’s visit on the import of hydropower.

He also said that before the victory in the liberation war, discussions were held in a very sincere atmosphere with the King of Bhutan, the country that first recognized independent Bangladesh on December 6, 1971.

"Bangladesh requested Bhutan to re-join BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal Initiative) and increase air-connectivity to increase people-to-people contacts between the two countries," the foreign minister said.

The minister said, “Now there are only two flights a week on the Dhaka-Thimpu route. It needs to be increased, because Bhutan is a very beautiful country.

I've been a few times there. I even attended the wedding of the current king. Last year, I welcomed him at the airport during a layover when he was traveling to another country via Bangladesh."

Hasan Mahmud said that the meeting also discussed about people being able to go to Bhutan by private cars.

The foreign minister also mentioned that Bhutan will be given space to establish a special economic zone in Kurigram.