Shirin to talk power, water, connectivity

Bangladesh will push for creation of a regional electricity grid and an early breakthrough on the Teesta water sharing deal when Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury meets India’s new PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday afternoon. She will also discuss the issue of regional connectivity, which India is keen on. ‘We want to further improve our good relationship with India and to deepen our co-operation on the economic front,’ Chaudhury said after attending Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi on Monday. She will meet Indian President Pranab Mukherjee after a 25-minute discussion with PM Narendra Modi and External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. Though the meeting is said to be a ‘courtesy call’ and ‘get-to-know’ affair, Bangladesh High Commissioner Tariq Karim indicated Chaudhury would focus on improving regional connectivity, including participating in a regional power grid, besides working on better sharing of waters in common rivers. ‘We will impress on India’s new government how crucial this is for a lower riparian country like Bangladesh,’ Karim said Bangladesh is also keen on carrying forward the BCIM and BIMSTEC processes forward and this will be communicated to the Indian leadership, said another Bangladesh diplomat, but he was not willing to be named, according to bdnews24.com.