Context:
The Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh collaboratively inaugurated three development projects in Bangladesh.
Indian-assisted development projects:
- Akhaura-Agartala cross-border rail link –
- Connects Bangladesh to Tripura.
- New cross-border link cuts travel time from Kolkata to Tripura to 10 hours (currently 38 hours), improving goods transport to India’s northeast states.
- Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line –
- Connects Mongla Port (Bangladesh’s 2nd largest port) and Khulna rail network through broad-gauge rail route.
- This connection also extends to India through Petrapole cross-border rail link.
- Unit II of Maitree Super Thermal Power –
- Location – Khulna
- Implemented by – Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company (Private) Limited (BIFPCL).
- BIFPCL – A Joint Venture between India’s NTPC Ltd and Bangladesh Power Development Board.
- It enhances Bangladesh’s energy security (currently imports power from India).
Key areas of cooperation:
- Economic: Bilateral Trade stood at $14.2 billion in FY 2021-22.
- Bangladesh is India’s biggest trade partner in South Asia
- India is the 2nd biggest trade partner of Bangladesh in Asia.
- Joint Exercises – Sampriti, Milan, Bongosagar etc.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
With reference to India’s projects on connectivity, consider the following statements:
1. East-West Corridor under Golden Quadrilateral Project connects Dibrugarh and Surat.
2. The Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Chiang Mai in Thailand via Myanmar.
3. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh with Kunming in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2023 Prelims]
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
Golden Quadrilateral Project network connects Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south, and Silchar in the east to Porbandar in the west. Trilateral Highway connects Moreh in Manipur and Mae Sot in Thailand via Myanmar. Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor connects Kolkata with Kunming in China. Hence, all the statements are not correct.
