Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina jointly inaugurate a host of projects via video conference; PM assures that India stands with Bangladesh in its development journey as a friendly neighbor.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina inaugurated three major Indo-Bangladesh joint venture projects including rail links and an electricity transmission grid through video conferencing.

Prime Minister Modi appreciated PM Sheikh Hasina’s development goals of transforming Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021, and a developed country by 2041. He said that closer relations and people to people links between the two countries would take development and prosperity in both nations to new heights.

Another fillip to PM Modi’s neighbourhood first policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina jointly unveil a plaque marking the groundbreaking ceremony of the Akhaura-Agartala rail link and upgradation of the Kulaura-Shahbazpur section of Bangladesh railway.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb were also present. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the ambitious jump in ties between India and Bangladesh since 2014.

The much-awaited Akhaura-Agartala rail project is about 12 km long of which 5.5 km would be laid in India while 6.5 km would be in Bangladesh. The total cost of the project would be about 960 crore rupees. It will provide fast connectivity to Northeastern Region of India from Kolkata via Bangladesh. The rail link will also provide a linkage between Tripura and other Northeastern states and Chittagong Port in Bangladesh leading to overall growth and progress of the Northeastern region. It will also encourage trade between the two nations.

The two leaders also inaugurated a 500 MW Power Transmission Link from India to Bangladesh…a promise Prime Minister Narendra in June 2015 on his first state visit as Prime Minister.