BD still hopeful of inking Energy Cooperation deal

Bangladesh still hopes that Saarc Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity), one of the 3 much-sought deals, will be inked during the 18th Summit which begins today (Wednesday). Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, who is now in Kathmandu, Nepal, to attend 18th Saarc Summit, has said: ‘We’ve not given up our hope. Still, we’re hopeful and our efforts are on to make that happen.’ He was speaking with reporters in the Nepalese capital after a minister-level meeting. The Foreign Minister, however, did not want to explain what is behind his optimism about signing of the Saarc Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity) saying it will turn counterproductive if he elaborates further. Three agreements – Saarc Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst Saarc member states, Saarc Regional Railways Agreement and Saarc Framework Agreement for Energy Cooperation (Electricity) – were supposed to be struck in the November 26-27 Summit. Mahmood Ali also said some countries could not complete their internal procedures for signing the 2 other deals. Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque was present, according to a news agency.