Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina today jointly inaugurated the India-Bangladesh Grid Inter-connection at Bheramara in Bangladesh. Dr Singh launched the joint venture through video-conferencing from New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister described today's inauguration as an important milestone in connecting the two countries and the border region through a growing web of cross-border energy links and trade. The Prime Minister also assured Bangladesh that India would remain a steadfast and long-term partner in the development efforts.

He said, the transmission line in High Voltage Direct Current, HVDC, in Bheramara would provide a safe and reliable interconnection of power grids of the two countries. Dr Singh said, this would enable the supply of 500 megawatt of power from India to Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister said, the initiative undertaken today will strengthen the bonds of friendship between India and Bangladesh and add a rich new dimension to the bilateral relations.

Both the Prime Ministers also jointly laid the foundation stone for 1320 megawatt Maitri Thermal Power Project, being developed by Bangladesh-India friendship power company which is a joint venture of India's NTPC and Bangladesh Power Development Board.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the historic event has taken India-Bangladesh relations to a greater height. She said the 500 MW of power, which will become available to Bangladesh in November this year would substantially help to bridge the power deficit in Bangladesh.