New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. This is the first cross-border fuel pipeline between India and Bangladesh built at an estimated cost of Rs.377 crores, while the Bangladesh part was built at a cost of about Rs.285 crores.
First Published Mar 19, 2023, 12:14 AM IST
ndia-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline: The India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline was jointly launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The leaders of both the countries started together through video conference on Saturday. Prime Minister Modi said that he is confident that this pipeline will further accelerate the development of Bangladesh and will set an excellent example of growing connectivity between the two countries. The center said that this is the first cross-border fuel pipeline built between India and Bangladesh at an estimated cost of Rs.377 crores, and the Bangladesh part has been built at a cost of about Rs.285 crores. The Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement that the cost was borne by the Government of India under Grant Assistance.
“Bangladesh has made significant progress under the able leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the last few years. Every Indian is proud of it. We are happy that we have been able to contribute to Bangladesh’s development journey,” PM Modi said at the inauguration of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. Prime Minister Modi said that the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline was inaugurated in September 2018 and with the help of this pipeline, 1 million metric tons of high speed diesel will be provided to the districts of North West Bengal. It is claimed that this will reduce the cost as well as reduce the delivery time.
Talking about the progress of connectivity between the two countries, Modi said, “I remember many years ago Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke about her vision to restore pre-1965 rail connectivity. Since then, the two countries have made a lot of progress. He said that he appreciated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s foresight in the matter of the railway network. It is noteworthy that the opening ceremony of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline was held the day after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth anniversary.
Speaking in Bengali, Sheikh Hasina said that the pipeline is crucial for energy security in Bangladesh. At a time when many countries are facing an energy crisis due to the Russia-Ukraine war, this pipeline will play a significant role in ensuring energy security for our people, she said. He said that there is a good market for Assam in Bangladesh. He said that the people of Assam are doing well.
