A new era in energy cooperation Hasina, Modi open Indo-Bangla pipeline

GBNEWS24DESK//

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the Bangladesh-India Friendship Pipeline will play a pivotal role in ensuring fuel security in Bangladesh.

” [And ] … at a time when many countries are faced with fuel crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war,” she added.

The prime minister was addressing a programme marking the inauguration of the 131.57 km pipeline yesterday, reports UNB.

The PM and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi formally opened the pipeline through videoconferencing.

Hasina was connected to the event from her official residence Gono Bhaban while Modi joined the programme from his office.

The pipeline has been built as part of energy cooperation between the two neighbours. Using this infrastructure, Bangladesh will import petroleum, especially diesel, from India.

Around 90 lakh litre of diesel was imported through this pipeline yesterday, said Tipu Sultan, project director of the pipeline project, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.

BSS adds: Speaking at the event, Indian PM Modi said, “I am confident that this pipeline will further speed up the development of Bangladesh and be an excellent example of the increasing connectivity between the both the countries.”

He said Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in the last few years under Hasina’s able leadership.

“Every Indian is proud of that and we are delighted that we have been able to contribute to the development journey of Bangladesh.”

‘WORKING TOGETHER FOR DEVELOPMENT’

Hasina said that the two countries have settled bilateral problems one by one and they are working together for their development.

“We are getting cooperation from India for our development.”

The PM said Bangladesh will be benefited in various ways due to the opening of the pipeline.

“The time and expenditure for importing diesel from India will be reduced significantly with the use of this pipeline.”

She said the supply of diesel to Bangladesh’s 16 northern districts will remain stable.

Terming India a genuine friend of Bangladesh, Hasina said, “I want that the friendship of our two countries will remain intact.”

She said that the government has developed Mongla and Chattogram ports, international airports in Sylhet and Chattogram and upgraded the Syedpur Airport as a regional airport.

“We are opening these ports for India completely. There will be no problem for India to use these ports. It will ease the trade and business activities, and the people of both the countries will be benefited.”