Three India-funded projects to be opened during PM's Delhi visit in Sept

Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant-2, 65-kilometre-long Khulna-Mongla Port Railway Link, Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala (India) Railway Link are expected to be inaugurated during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming India visit for attending the 18th G20 Summit in September, report agencies.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma made the announcement as he paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister at the latter's official Ganabhaban residence here on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the summit as a guest at the invitation of India, the forum's current president.

The Moitree Super Thermal Power Plant-II and Khulna-Mongla Port Railway Line are being implemented under Indian Line of Credit (LOC) while Akhaura-Agartala Railway Link is being built under an Indian grant.

PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

He said the prime minister thanked the Indian government for allow Bangladesh to bring 40MW power from Nepal through India grid and hoped India will also allow import of power from Bhutan through their grid.

Regarding Taka-Rupee exchange system, the Indian High Commissioner mentioned that two types of cards like credit cards will be issued. One will be Rupaee Card and other will be Taka Card.

"Both sides will issue these cards so that people of the two countries could use these cards for their payments," he said.

The PM said a huge number of Bangladeshis visit India for various purposes and they can use the card.

During the meeting, both sides have expressed satisfaction with the state of the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India, said the press secretary.

The meeting also dwelt on connectivity, ongoing projects under the Indian LoCs and grants, among others.

The Indian high commissioner highly praised the prime minister's initiatives of Vision-2021 and Vision-2041 to transform Bangladesh into a smart one.

"They have created very positive vibes," he was quoted as telling PM Hasina.

Hasina hoped that India would raise its voice particularly for the Global South alongside the entire world during the G20 summit.

The Indian envoy said his country looks forward to PM Hasina's playing an important role at the summit.

PM's Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, PMO Secretary Mohammad Salahuddin and Indian Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Binoy George, were present during the meeting.