The government has decided to import 40 MW electricity from neighbouring country Nepal. 

Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in a meeting on Wednesday approved a proposal in principle to import the power. 

However, the tariff of the Nepalese electricity was not disclosed in the meeting as this proposal will be placed next in the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase (CCGP).

Earlier on August 28 this year, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said that import of hydropower from Nepal was almost final.

There was a plan to import electricity from Nepal before the winter so that in return Bangladesh can get the opportunity to export its surplus electricity to Nepal during peak demand in winter in the Himalayan nation.

Electricity demand decreases during winter in Bangladesh while it increases in Nepal. 

According to sources, after a long discussion at political and bureaucratic levels among the countries, India finally agreed to allow Bangladesh to initially import 40 MW electricity from Nepal through Indian transmission infrastructure.

Currently, Bangladesh is importing electricity from India through a similar arrangement where the Indian company NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) is selling power to BPDB.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul