Why do India, Banladesh Start Friendship pipeline?

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said the inauguration of "India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline" is a milestone achievement in mutual cooperation for the development of the two friendly neighbours.

The pipeline will play a significant role in protecting the energy security of both country. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline will enhance cooperation in energy security between the two countries. 

This pipeline would further speed up the development of Bangladesh and be an excellent example of the increasing connectivity between the both the countries. Narendra Modi said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s ‘Sonar Bangla’ vision included the harmonious development and prosperity of the entire region. This joint project is a perfect example of their vision. The two south Asian nations--Bangladesh and India have also expressed fresh vow to work together as partners in order to achieve the desired benefit for them and bring peace and prosperity in the region as a whole. The 130-kilometre pipeline between the two countries was built at an estimated cost of INR 377 crore.

The supply of diesel through this pipeline will reduce the cost and will also reduce the carbon footprint of the supply. The pipeline has a capacity to transport 1(one) million metric ton per annum (MMTPA) of High-Speed Diesel (HSD).

We hope our neighbour state would continue to walk step by step with our country to help it achieve the desired progress, stability and prosperity

The pipeline will carry diesel from Assam-based Numaligarh Refinery Ltd's (NRL) marketing terminal at Siliguri in West Bengal to the Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC). It will supply High Speed Diesel initially to seven districts in northern Bangladesh.

The operation of ‘India- Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline’ will put in place a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective and environment friendly mode of transporting HSD from India to Bangladesh. Bilateral relations between two countries is a role model for neighbourhood diplomacy.

So, apart from this development project, we still hope all the outstanding issues, including Teesta Water Sharing Treaty would be signed soon likewise many issues solved in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. We also expect our neighbour state would continue to walk step by step with our country to help it achieve the desired progress, stability and prosperity.

Since Bangladesh’s Liberation War in 1971, the two countries shared history and culture, mutual trust and respect, longstanding friendship and continued cooperation.

The relationship between the two nations is “written with blood” and it has reached a new height under the dynamic leadership of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s daughter Sheikh Hasina. This bonding of friendship between Bangladesh and India will be further strengthened in the days to come through the opening of India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline. 

The friendly bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India has a storied history, but nowhere has this been more evident, in recent years, than in our energy cooperation. 

With India being a major player in the energy sector and its close proximity with Bangladesh, it only makes sense that there would be great synergy between the two nations. While Bangladesh has engaged with a number of different stakeholders in the energy sector, few are as important as India.

To that end, the flagship Rampal Power Plant -- for example -- is a direct result of our fruitful relationship with India. Alongside India, Russia has been a major player in the energy sector with the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. However, recent developments and the international embargo placed on Russia has presented issues for this ambitious project. 

This is not to say that our partnership with India has been a walk in the park. There have been allegations of India using its influence to get a better deal, a lot of them rightfully so. However, this can be chalked up to our own diplomatic blunders, which is one area where the administration needs to genuinely focus its attention.We need to do everything we can to nurture this partnership, but it doesn't mean rolling over. Bilateral talks with participation from private stakeholders have to be conducted periodically.

Furthermore, both public and private stakeholders need to ramp up their negotiation skills -- getting the best possible deal should be an absolute priority, after all. Direct intervention from the government in this case has to be used if necessary.The future is indeed looking bright for Bangladesh, and a major reason is the partnerships that we continue to solidify.

Sent in by Pathik Hasan

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