Bangladesh has an outstanding electricity bill of ₹200 crore owed to Tripura

Bangladesh owes ₹200 crore in unpaid electricity bills to Tripura, but no decision has been made yet on halting the power supply, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha stated on Monday. Currently, Tripura supplies 60-70 megawatts of electricity to Bangladesh under an agreement between the Tripura State Electricity Corporation Limited and the Bangladesh Power Development Board, facilitated by the NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited.

"Bangladesh has not paid us ₹200 crore for electricity supplied. The outstanding amount is growing daily. We hope they clear their dues to ensure uninterrupted power supply," Saha told PTI in an interview.

When asked if Tripura would suspend electricity supply if Bangladesh fails to pay, the chief minister said no such decision has been made yet. He noted that several pieces of equipment for Tripura's power plant were transported via Bangladeshi territory or Chittagong port. "As a gesture of gratitude, we began supplying electricity to Bangladesh under a pact, but I’m unsure how long this can continue without payment," Saha remarked.

Tripura began exporting electricity to Bangladesh in March 2016, generated at the ONGC Tripura Power Company's (OTPC) 726 MW gas-based power plant in Palatana, southern Tripura. Meanwhile, Adani Power, which exports electricity from its 1,600 MW plant in Godda, Jharkhand, has also reduced supply to Bangladesh due to unpaid dues amounting to $800 million.

Border Monitoring and Security

Regarding the reported attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, Saha said no significant influx into Tripura has occurred yet. "We are closely monitoring the porous border to manage any potential migration," he added. Tripura shares an 856 km-long border with Bangladesh, which constitutes 84% of its total boundary.

Addressing the recent security breach at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, Saha said strict action was taken, including the arrest of several individuals and disciplinary measures against responsible police personnel.

Trade and Connectivity

Saha noted that trade between Tripura and Bangladesh has been disrupted since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government. Imports of goods like cement, stone chips, and Hilsa fish have significantly declined, impacting trade flow. "The disruption affects Bangladesh more than us," he said.

Highlighting connectivity, Saha emphasized the importance of restoring the railway link between Agartala and Dhaka and ensuring uninterrupted access to Chittagong port. "If these routes are optimized, the entire Northeastern region of India will benefit immensely," he said.

The newly inaugurated rail line between Agartala and Akhaura, Bangladesh, was completed with joint funding from India. The Indian section cost ₹708.73 crore and was funded by the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, while the Bangladeshi portion, costing ₹392.52 crore, was financed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

If overland transport rights are granted by Bangladesh, the travel time between Agartala and Kolkata could reduce from 30 hours to just 10, with the distance curtailed from 1,581 km to 460 km.