Bangladesh-India relation is touching new heights: Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said relations with Dhaka and New Delhi are consistently “touching new heights” as he inaugurated three key infrastructure projects through video conferencing with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

"It is a matter of happiness that we have come together to celebrate the success of India-Bangladesh cooperation. Our relations are touching new heights," Modi said in Hindi as the three projects Akhaura-Agartala rail link, Khulna-Mongla port rail line and the second unit of Maitree power plant in Rampal built with Indian assistance to boost connectivity and energy security in the region were inaugurated.

He said there has been “remarkable progress” in India-Bangladesh relations.

The three projects are Akhaura - Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link; Khulna - Mongla Port Rail Line; and Unit – II of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant. 

The Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link project has been executed under Government of India grant assistance of INR 392.52 crore extended to Bangladesh.

The length of the rail link is 12.24 km with a 6.78 km Dual Gauge rail line in Bangladesh and 5.46 km in Tripura.

Connectivity initiatives between India and Bangladesh proved to be a lifeline during the Covid-19 pandemic and India’s Oxygen Express train supplied more than 4,000 tonnes of liquid medical oxygen to Bangladesh

Inaugurating the cross-border Akhaura-Agartala rail link, Modi said this is the first between Bangladesh and north east India.

Also inaugurating the Khulna-Mongla rail link, he said this has connected trade centres in Dhaka and Kolkata.