Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday (February 07, 2024) emphasised on early conclusion of Teesta water sharing agreement aiming to strengthen water cooperation between Bangladesh and India. He also stressed the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty that will expire in 2026. The issue of border killings was discussed during his bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House on his maiden bilateral trip to India as the foreign minister. Both sides agreed to enhanced cooperation between the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Border Security Force (BSF) and using non-lethal weapons to reduce border killing to zero. Foreign Minister Mahmud requested his Indian counterpart to withdraw tariff and non-tariff barriers for Bangladesh's exports, as well as ensure uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to Bangladesh for maintaining price stability, especially during Ramadan. Mahmud is visiting India from 6 to 9 February 2024 at the invitation of the External Affairs Minister of India. Our discussions today will strengthen Bangladesh-India Maitri, says Jaishankar welcoming FM in New DelhiThe two foreign ministers expressed satisfaction on the excellent bilateral relation that exists between Bangladesh and India. They discussed key areas of mutual interests, expressing a commitment to strengthening collaboration across various areas. They stressed the need for deeper and high quality cooperation in various sectors especially trade and commerce, connectivity, power, defence and security cooperation and water. Both the foreign ministers agreed to collaborate further each other at sub-regional, regional and multilateral platform.Mahmud thanked India for their cooperation and continued support in various sectors which resulted in a remarkable year of 2023 in the bilateral relations between the two countries. He noted that a number of projects in promoting power sector cooperation and establishing connectivity were inaugurated by the two prime ministers. Political stability, peace must for development and progress: Hasan Mahmud says in DelhiThe Indian External Affairs minister congratulated the Bangladesh Foreign Minister for conducting a very good and successful elections held last month. Dr Jaishankar emphasised on regional connectivity and power sector cooperation. He appreciated the government of Bangladesh under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for socio-economic advancement during last 15 years. The minister noted that Bangladesh and India should work together to fulfill the aspiration of the peoples of both countries. He stressed devising ways and means of fast tracking LoC projects.Both the foreign ministers discussed in details the evolving situation in Myanmar and its impact on the regional stability and repatriation of Rohingyas from Bangladesh to Myanmar. Bangladesh’s foreign minister reiterated for India's support in the early repatriation of Rohingya refugees.Both the foreign ministers expressed commitment to further enhance their collaboration to promote sub-regional cooperation within the framework of BIMSTEC, IORA and BBIN. The foreign minister invited the External Affairs Minister of India to Dhaka for the next Joint Consultative Commission (JCC) Meeting at his earliest convenience.Earlier, Mahmud paid tribute to the memories of Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat. He met National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and visited Bangabandhu Media Centre at the Press Club of India. FM Hasan, Jaishankar discuss scope of future engagement in line with "Smart Bangladesh 2041" and "Viksit Bharat 2047"

Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have said they look forward to getting negotiations going on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) for their two countries, covering trade in goods, services, and protecting and promoting investment. Expressing satisfaction at the implementation of development cooperation projects, they looked forward to the joint inauguration of three projects (Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link, Unit-II of the Maitri Power Plant and Khulna-Mongla Rail Link) at a convenient date later. The two leaders had a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Friday (September 08, 2023).  PM Hasina is visiting India as its guest country to participate in the G-20 Leaders Summit on 9-10 September 2023. Read more: Hasina, Modi agree to resolve outstanding bilateral issues through talks With regard to the regional situation, Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation of the burden shouldered by Bangladesh in hosting over a million persons displaced from Rakhine State in Myanmar, and conveyed India's constructive and positive approach to support solutions towards safe and sustainable repatriation of the refugees. The Indian side welcomed the Indo-Pacific Outlook announced by Bangladesh recently, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (Indian Foreign Ministry).  The leaders agreed to continue working together to intensify their wide-ranging engagement. The two leaders discussed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation including political and security cooperation, border management, trade and connectivity, water resources, power and energy, development cooperation, cultural and people to people ties. Current developments in the region and cooperation in the multilateral fora were also discussed. Read more: Dhaka, New Delhi sign 3 MoUs after Hasina-Modi talks They welcomed the operationalization of the Agreement on the use of the Chattogram and Mongla Ports and commissioning of the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline.  They also expressed appreciation for operationalization of settlement of bilateral trade in INR (rupee) and encouraged the business community on both sides to utilize the mechanism. Hasina thanked Modi for the hospitality of the government and people of India, as the two leaders looked forward to continuing interactions at all levels. Read more: Hasina, Modi didn't talk about Bangladesh election: Momen

State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid has said Bangladesh is expecting to get 1-1.5 million metric ton of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Brunei starting early 2023. He made the statement following a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh and Brunei Darussalam in Bandar Seri Begawan on Thursday (November 24, 2022). “There might be a 10-15 year agreement between the two nations in this regard,” he said.  Read more: Despite suspension of LNG import, govt decides to increase listed suppliers’ numbers Nasrul Hamid led the Bangladesh delegation while Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei, Yang Mulia Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Matsatejo bin Sokiaw, led his country’s delegation. The State Minister said both Dhaka and Bandar Seri Begawan had fruitful discussions to increase the area of cooperation. In the current context, he said, it was discussed to import an average of 210,000 MT of diesel from Brunei on deferred payment. New agreements will be signed on these matters. He mentioned that both nations agreed to broaden the areas of cooperation in the energy sector. Read more: Saudi Arabia assures assistance in commercial supply of LNG to Bangladesh Bangladesh had imported 325,975 MT of diesel during 2014-2016 from Brunei. But later it was not possible to further import diesel from the Brunei-based supply company PB Trading Sendirian Berhad due to a condition that it must have its own refinery.  It is mentionable that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Dhaka and Bandar Seri Begawan on October 16 during the Brunei’s Sultan’s Dhaka visit on the cooperation in supply of LNG and other petroleum products.  Brunei’s Prime Minister’s permanent secretary Yang Mulia Azhar bin Haji Yahya, director of the Energy Department Mohammad Nizam bin Haji Ismi, director of the Petroleum Authority Adrian Wong Kwai Ming, acting director of the energy sharing management department of Energy Division Haji Mohd Zaki bin Haji Hassanol As’shari were present in the meeting from Brunei side. Read more: No additional LNG supply from Qatar before 2025: Petrobangla Bangladesh delegation includes senior secretary of the Energy Division Md Mahbub Hossain, chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) ABM Azad, Petrobangla chairman Nazmul Ahsan, managing director of Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Limited Zabed Chowdhury and Bangladesh Ambassador in Brunei Nahida Rahman.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Wednesday lauded Bangladesh’s progress saying that the country has become a rising star in South Asia and sustainable development model for the entire world under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Around 17 percent of Bangladesh’s electricity will come from renewable energy sources by 2041, said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid.