Bangladesh is planning to import 500 Megawatt of electricity from India by July 2013. Briefing reporters in Dhaka today, Bangladesh's Power Division Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said a power purchase agreement has been signed with National Thermal power Corporation for the import of 250 Megawatt of power through the interconnecting grid that is being set up between the two countries.

In addition to this he said steps are being taken to buy another 250 Megawatt of power through competitive bidding. Mr.Azad added that the issue of sub-regional cooperation in the area of power involving Nepal and Bhutan was discussed during the India Bangladesh Joint Steering Committee meeting on Power in New Delhi last week. Mr. Azad said that Bangladesh has also proposed the setting up of a joint venture hydro-electric power plant in north-east India during the discussions at the meeting.