The project was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2018

Taking ahead the friendship between both sides, India and Bangladesh on Thursday held a groundbreaking ceremony for the cross-border India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline project that would supply fuel from Assam to Dinajpur.

The ceremony was led by Chairman Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation Md Abu Bakr Siddique in the presence of Managing Director Padma Oil Corporation Mohammed Masudur Rahman, and the officials from the DC Office, Dinajpur, Nilphamari, and Country Head Numaligarh Refineries Limited (NRL).



Once completed, the 130-km pipeline would supply fuel oil from Numaligarh Refinery Ltd at Golaghat, Assam to Parbatipur depot of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation in Dinajpur.

The project was jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in a virtual ceremony in 2018.

“The pipeline will help in the development of northern Bangladesh. Though it is being done with grant-financing from India, the project will be dedicated to the people and government of Bangladesh once completed,” PM Modi had said during the ceremony.

The proposed pipeline will energize not just Bangladesh’s economy but also the relationship between the two countries, he had said.

Speaking from Dhaka, PM Hasina had thanked PM Modi for the projects and reiterated her support for working with India.

As part of its Neighborhood First Policy, India accords high priority to Bangladesh as a friendly neighbor and hopes to develop ties in the areas of mutual interest.

The two sides have made several efforts to improve connectivity and bolster bilateral ties in recent months.