Ambassador of Nepal to Bangladesh Ghanshyam Bhandari on Tuesday discussed Nepal's vast hydropower potential with interim government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and expressed hope that the two countries would soon be able to start energy trading.
The envoy paid a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Prof Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna and congratulated the Chief Adviser on taking over the leadership of the Interim Government after a historic student-led mass uprising in July-August.
The Ambassador said two South Asian nations are members of SAARC and BIMSTEC, and both countries have "excellent" bilateral relations based on shared history and very deep people-to-people interactions.
The economic engagement between the two countries is still at a modest level, the envoy said.
Ambassador Bhandari expressed gratitude for the Bangladesh government's generous offer to Nepal to use the Chattogram and Mongla ports.
The Ambassador also expressed appreciation to the Bangladesh government for hosting a significant number of Nepali students, especially in medical education.
"Many doctors of Nepal were educated in Bangladesh," Chief Adviser's press wing quoted the Ambassador as saying.
During the meeting, the Chief Adviser enquired about the activities of the SAARC, the South Asian regional cooperation, which didn't have any summit after 2014.
The headquarters of the SAARC is based at the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu.
The Ambassador highlighted the importance of strengthening regional cooperation through SAARC and BIMSTEC and working closely at various multilateral forums.
Ambassador Bhandari handed over to him the letter of felicitations from the Prime Minister of Nepal Rt. Hon. K P Sharma Oli.
Referring to the Prime Minister’s letter and the press statement issued on 7 August 2024 by the Government of Nepal, the Ambassador reiterated the solidarity of the Government and people of Nepal with the Government and people of Bangladesh as the latter try to navigate through the current transitional period.
The Chief Adviser appreciated the expression of support and solidarity from Nepal and observed with satisfaction that the two countries continue to enjoy close and cordial relations both at the political and people-to-people levels.
During the meeting, the discussions were held on ways to further consolidate Nepal-Bangladesh relations with a renewed focus on economic linkages.
As the Ambassador stressed the need to unlock potentials in areas of trade, transit, and connectivity, he laid emphasis on energy cooperation as a ‘win-win enterprise’ between Nepal and Bangladesh.
Early commencement of the export of 40 MW hydroelectricity from Nepal to Bangladesh through the Indian transmission lines will be a transformative step in enhancing energy cooperation at the sub-regional level, he said.
He also expressed happiness over the increasing people-to-people contacts, educational linkages, and tourism exchanges between the two countries.
The Chief Adviser emphasized the benefits of tapping the hydropower potential with a particular focus on its contributions towards achieving net zero emission scenario.
He also stressed the early realization of this mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.
The Ambassador thanked the Bangladesh government for support and cooperation received in matters related to safety and security of Nepali nationals, particularly Nepali students, during and after the recent protests, and expressed hope that this support would continue in the future as well.
Discussions were also held on Nepal-Bangladesh cooperation at the regional and international forums.
They underscored the significance of revitalizing regional processes such as SAARC and BIMSTEC.
Noting that Nepal and Bangladesh are graduating from the LDC category in 2026, they underlined the need to share experiences and best practices for a smooth, sustainable, and irreversible graduation.
Ambassador Bhandari was accompanied by Deputy Chief of Mission Lalita Silwal and Second Secretary Yojana Bamjan.