(File Photo)
The Nepal government is making preparations to sign a power export deal with Bangladesh on Thursday.
A team from Bangladesh has already arrived to this effect, sources have said.
Even though the agreements were set to be signed twice earlier, it was postponed due to the political unrest in Bangladesh.
"Bangladeshi Minister for Environment (Environmental Advisor to the Interim Government) Syeda Rizwana Hasan is coming to Nepal on Wednesday," said Energy Secretary at the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Suresh Acharya told Nepalkhabar, "Two agreements – one between Nepal and Bangladesh and the other between Nepal, Bangladesh and India – will be signed."
Environmental Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh, Syeda Rizwana Hasan
The issue of selling electricity to Bangladesh had been on hold following the formation of the new interim government in the country.
Earlier, Nepali Ambassador to Bangladesh, Ghana Shyam Bhandari, met with the representatives of the Interim Government of Bangladesh and reminded them of the power trade agreement reached earlier between Nepal and Bangladesh.
A week earlier, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met with Chief of Interim Government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, in New York while attending the 79th General Assembly of the United Nations on September 26.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli (left) in a meeting with Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus in New York
They had discussed the power trade agreement in the meeting, according to Prime Minister Oli.
"I had held a meeting with Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus in New York," said Prime Minister Oli, "The discussions with him were held on cooperation on electricity, transport, tourism and education, bilateral ties."
Against this backdrop, the Nepali Electricity Authority (NEA) is going to sign a power trade deal with the Power Development Board of Bangladesh.
Earlier, then government led by ousted Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, had agreed to purchase electricity at the rate of 6.40 cents. If things go as agreed, Bangladesh will purchase electricity worth Rs 7.39 billion in the period of five years.
