Himal Press 
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KATHMANDU: A cabinet committee of Bangladesh has approved a proposal to import 40 MW of hydropower from Nepal.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the national news agency of Bangladesh, the 15th meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase approved the proposal.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Secretary of the Cabinet Division (Coordination and Reform) Md Mahmudul Hossain Khan said the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) would import 40 MW for five years from Nepal under a tripartite agreement among Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN), and BPDB. “The electricity will be transmitted to Bangladesh via the Indian grid,” he added.
The import price will be 8.17 taka (approximately Rs 9.3) per unit.
The two countries, however, have yet to sign a formal agreement for energy trade. Khan said the agreement could be signed during Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Nepal.
The dates for the visit, however, have not been finalized.
Bangladesh currently imports 2,600 MW from India, including 1,500 MW from Adani Group’s coal-fired plant in Jharkhand.
Dhaka has also expressed interest in developing a hydropower plant in Nepal with a capacity of around 500 MW.
