“We have received a green signal from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and forwarded the proposal to the foreign ministry to resume negotiations with New Delhi and Yangon in this regard,” said Mohsin.
“Now we have received the green signal from the head of the government to revive the discussions regarding the construction of a regional gas pipeline as it will benefit our country,” Mohsin told Reuters.
Bangladesh, which faces gas scarcity of around 250 million cubic feet per day, excepts to use gas from the link and to gain from fees, the official said.
In January 2005, energy ministers of the three countries met for the first time in Yangon to confer on the building of a tri-nation gas pipeline with a total length of 950-kilometers, and signed a draft memorandum of understanding.
The pipeline was estimated to enter eastern Bangladesh through the Brahmanbaria border point and enter India’s West Bengal state from the northern Rajshahi area of Bangladesh.
The draft had a provision for hydropower transit from the Himalayas to Bangladesh through India, and a corridor across India for trade between Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan.
Progress on the project has been postponed due to differences between Dhaka and New Delhi over trade and corridor issues.
In 2006, India and Myanmar considered redesigning the gas pipeline so that they can skip Bangladesh altogether.
If the plan is executed, around $350 million will be infused in Bangladesh and it would expect to get around $100 million as a carrier fee per year, energy officials said.
Bangladesh will also get another $100 million as a one-off right of way charge and $25 million each year for sharing in its management, the officials said.
