PM, King discuss power, water management

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk Friday discussed regional cooperation in generation of electricity and management of waters of common rivers for mutual benefit, reports UNB. During the nearly one and a half-hour meeting at Sonargaon Hotel in the evening, they discussed a new project for generating hydropower through joint collaboration between Bangladesh, Bhutan and India. Bhutan, rich in hydropower, has already signed a project with India for generation of 10,000 MW of electricity by 2020. On water management, Prime Minister Hasina and King Jigme Khesar stressed four-nation collaboration among Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal. Briefing reporters after the meeting, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said that if this cooperation becomes fruitful, "many tensions among us will be diffused and all will be benefited." The two leaders also discussed increasing trade and commerce and connectivity between Bangladesh and Bhutan. BSS report adds: Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Friday visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum (BMM) and the Liberation War Museum (LWM) in the city as he passed the second day of his five-day official visit to Bangladesh. The 31-year-old King, who took office from his father King Jigme Singhe Wangchuk formally in 2008, arrived in Dhaka for the first time and paid rich tributes to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the freedom fighters of the country.