How would you describe the current state of Bangladesh-Nepal relations?
As close neighbours, Nepal and Bangladesh have always enjoyed excellent relations characterized by tremendous goodwill and solidarity. Though our diplomatic relations were established in 1972, connections and communications between our societies and communities predate that milestone. Strong linkages at all levels and in all sectors have continued to foster our relations.
I love to describe this dynamic relationship in terms of three major drivers. First, our bonds of true neighbourliness are nurtured by a principled outlook of trust, respect and cooperation. As true friends, we have a tradition of standing with each other in times of need, acknowledging each other’s sensitivities and aspirations for development.
The second driver is [our] economic partnership. While we should concede that our current economic engagements remain at a modest level, we have recently made some significant headways in areas of trade, connectivity, energy and tourism, among others.
We have entered into a new phase of economic partnership with the recent signing of the long-awaited tripartite power sales agreement ensuring the export of power from Nepal to Bangladesh through Indian transmission lines. Not least in this light, I am more confident that our two countries will continue to make further strides in economic partnership.
Third, cultural ties and people-to-people connections have been the beating heart of our bilateral relationship. We speak similar languages with both Nepali and Bangla languages having their roots in Sanskrit. We celebrate common festivals, eat similar foods, and have similar cultures and traditions. Many Nepali students, particularly in the medical field, choose Bangladesh for their higher education. Likewise, Nepal continues to be a favoured destination for Bangladeshi tourists. These connections and exchanges at the grassroots level have played a vital role in further consolidating our warm and friendly ties. That said, there is still so much untapped potential, especially on the economic front. So there is a need to intensify our economic cooperation to unlock greater benefits for both our countries.
Can you explain the key points of the trilateral agreement?
I call it a historic agreement because this enables the first-ever power transaction among our three countries, marking a significant step that is expected to serve as a springboard for future energy cooperation in the sub-region. We have been able to finalize this deal six years after we signed an MoU between Nepal and Bangladesh on power sector cooperation in 2018. Per the agreement, Nepal will export 40MW of electricity for five months – from mid-June to mid-November – every year. For now, Nepal will transmit the energy to India through the 400KV Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission lines before India transmits the equivalent to Bangladesh through the Bahrampur (India)-Bheramara (Bangladesh) transmission lines.
How do you see this agreement benefiting Nepal and Bangladesh in terms of energy security and economic growth?
Over the last decade, there has been a lot of talk about energy cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh. Given Nepal’s hydropower potential and Bangladesh’s increasing energy needs, this has been labelled as a win-win enterprise. With the signing of this agreement, we are close to realizing power cooperation in real terms.
It may be pertinent to recall at least two other projects on which negotiations are underway. Our two governments have agreed to finalize at the earliest the joint venture agreement on the development of the 683MW Sunkoshi III Hydropower Project. Nepal has already shared the reports of the feasibility study and environmental impact assessment with Bangladesh. We await the latter’s response.
Similarly, the government of Bangladesh is negotiating with GMR Group of India on the power purchase agreement of 500MW of electricity from the 900MW run-of-the-river Upper Karnali Hydropower Project, which is supposed to be developed by GMR Group. The agreement on the export of 40MW of hydroelectricity and these two other projects under discussion are just the beginning.
We need more investment and an enhanced level of engagement among our countries in the sub-region in order to further tap Nepal’s hydropower potential for our collective energy security and economic growth.
I believe that energy cooperation between our countries is a sunrise industry, with immense possibilities for expansion.
What challenges do you foresee in implementing this agreement?
Since all three countries – Nepal, Bangladesh and India – which will have their part to play in implementing the agreement are its signatories, I do not see any such challenges. Moreover, the idea of enabling power export from Nepal to Bangladesh was agreed upon at the highest political level of our three countries.
So I understand it is just a matter of completing some technical procedures before electrons actually flow between Nepal and Bangladesh.
What are the key areas of trade, transit and economic cooperation between our countries?
Many Bangladeshis travel to Nepal for tourism. Can you share any data on this? What role does tourism play in our bilateral relations?
That is true. Nepal is a next-door neighbour and a popular travel destination for Bangladeshi people. I am pleased to note that, after the Covid-19 disruptions, the number of people travelling from both sides is on the rise. The total number of Bangladeshi people visiting Nepal was over 36,000 in 2023. This is much higher than the pre-pandemic level. We all know tourism serves as a valuable means of enhancing people-to-people interactions between our two countries. It has been instrumental in providing opportunities for mutual understanding and appreciation of each other’s cultures and perspectives and in fostering our bilateral ties.
These travellers, mountaineers and trekkers from both ends are our real cultural and goodwill ambassadors. To further enhance people-to-people contacts, we need to promote tourism circuits connecting touristic destinations in our two countries. We could create attractive packages for travellers from both countries and beyond. We can also explore opportunities for collaboration in adventure tourism, medical tourism and eco-tourism projects.
Could you shed light on educational linkages between our two countries?
Approximately 3,000 Nepali students currently study in various universities and colleges across Bangladesh. Most of them are in the medical field. Bangladesh’s reputation for providing high-quality medical education and warm hospitality has made it a preferred destination for our students. Our students do not just earn their degrees from Bangladesh. They play a vital role in bringing our peoples and societies closer by promoting cross-cultural understanding. We want these academic exchanges to grow both ways. Nepal’s universities and colleges provide state-of-the-art facilities and quality higher education, especially in the fields of science, humanities, management, information technology and hospitality, among others. Therefore, we also look forward to welcoming more Bangladeshi students in these areas.
How do you describe the cooperation between our two countries at regional and international forums?
What do you envision for the future of Nepal-Bangladesh relations?
I see a bright and promising future for Nepal-Bangladesh relations. In recent years, our two countries have made significant progress in various areas, including socio-economic development. We have a similar vision and agenda for development. New partnerships are emerging in areas such as energy, trade, connectivity, ICT, tourism and education. And most important of all, the foundation of our friendship is very strong.
Nepali people consider Bangladesh one of their closest friends. Bangladeshi people are admired in Nepal for their entrepreneurship, determination and resilience. I find similar sentiments among Bangladeshi friends towards Nepal and Nepali people. So there is no reason why we cannot be more optimistic about our relationship. The need will be to ensure that most of our conversation is not about what we could not do, but about what we can and should do next. We must leverage the transformative power of our collective strengths, solidarity and cooperation for the mutual benefit of our peoples.
