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Hydropower-ed talks likely

Bhutanese PM due today

Diplomatic Correspondent
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay arrives here this morning for holding talks with his Bangladesh counterpart on increasing bilateral trade, establishing connectivity, cooperation in power sector and trination hydroelectricity generation.
Diplomatic sources said the Bhutanese PM will lead a 26-
member high-profile team of ministers, business delegates and media persons to renew the bilateral trade agreement between two countries and discuss other issues.
Bangladesh and Bhutan signed the agreement in 1980, granting each other the "most favoured nation" preferential status of trade development.
Officials of foreign and commerce ministries said the bilateral trade agreement will be renewed for five years but Bhutan wants to renew the agreement for a further ten-year period. It was last renewed in 2009. The validity of the agreement expired this November.
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and his Bhutanese counterpart Norbu Wangchuk are scheduled to sign the renewal of the deal for their respective sides today in the presence of the two prime ministers.
Bangladesh currently grants duty free and tax free entry of 18 products of Bhutan. The products are vegetable, fruits, fruit juices, jams, pickles and other mineral products. Similar concessions have been agreed on pebbles exported to Bangladesh.
Diplomatic sources said there has been a discussion that Bangladesh, India and Bhutan will form a strategic alliance to harness the potential for development of water resources and hydropower in the Brahmaputra basin.
Another such sub-regional strategic alliance among Nepal, India and Bangladesh (NIB) is also being discussed and the three countries have already agreed to join hands to cooperate and exploit the hydropower sector and use water resources management
to mutual advantage, including jointly developing and financing projects in the Ganges river basin.
Bangladesh and India will be in both the alliances, while Nepal will be in the alliance for the Ganges basin and Bhutan for the Brahmaputra basin.
Official sources said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutanese PM Tshering are expected to discuss the hydropower generation issues during the official talks scheduled to be held at 4:30pm at the Prime Minister's Office today.
This is going to be Tshering's first visit to Bangladesh since assuming office in July 2013 and his visit carries special significance as he is coming on the day (December 6) when Bhutan recognised Bangladesh as an independent state in 19 71.
Foreign ministry sources said the Bhutanese premier will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Rinzin Dorji, Minister for Economic Affairs Norbu Wangchuk and other senior officials of the Royal Government and a 13-member business delegation.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will
receive her Bhutanese counterpart at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 9:00am.
Bhutanese diplomats said the visit is reaffirmation of very strong and friendly bonds between the two countries.
During the visit, the Bhutanese PM will pay a courtesy call on President Abdul Hamid. He will also meet with several other senior leaders, including Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi.
The Bhutanese PM will also meet the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Raushan Ershad. He will leave Dhaka on December 8 at 3:30pm.
Local business leaders and their Bhutanese counterparts will also meet today to explore business opportunities between the South Asian countries. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) will host the event titled "Networking Business Meeting" at its meeting room.