Context-

• Recently, three development projects were jointly inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through video conferencing.
• These projects are being implemented with the assistance of India.
• These will boost communication and energy security in the region.

Key points -

• These projects include Akhaura-Agartala cross border rail link, Khulna-Mongla-Port rail line and Maitree Super Thermal Power Plant Unit-II.
• The project is implemented by Bangladesh-India Matree Power Company Limited which is a 50:50 joint venture company between NTPC Limited of India and Bangladesh Power Development Board.
• India's NTPC Limited and Bangladesh Power Development Board have equal stake in this joint venture company.

Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link Project

• The Akhaura-Agartala Cross-Border Rail Link Project has been prepared with the grant amount of Rs 392.52 crore given by the Government of India to Bangladesh.
• The total length of this rail link, including a 6.78 km long dual gauge rail line in Bangladesh and a 5.46 km long rail line in Tripura, is 12.24 km.

 Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line Project

• The Khulna-Mongla Port Rail Line Project has been implemented under the concessional credit facility of the Government of India with a total project cost of US$ 388.92 million.
• The project involves construction of approximately 65 km of broad gauge rail route between Mongla Port and the existing rail network at Khulna.
• With this, Bangladesh's second largest port Mongla has been connected to the broad-gauge railway network.

 Maitree Super Thermal Power Project

• Maitree Super Thermal Power Project, under the Indian Concessional Financing Scheme loan of US$1.6 billion, is a 1320 MW super thermal power plant located at Rampal in Khulna Division of Bangladesh.
• The project is implemented by Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited which is a 50:50 joint venture company between NTPC Limited of India and Bangladesh Power Development Board.

 Important facts for examination -

• The land border of Bangladesh is surrounded by the Indian border on three sides and the Bay of Bengal is located on the fourth side.
• Border between India and Bangladesh – 4096.7 km. ,

 International forums where both India and Bangladesh are members:

• SAARC
• BIMSTEC
• IORA

 Bangladesh 

• Capital: Dhaka
• President: Mohammad Shahabuddin
• Prime Minister: Sheikh Hasina
• Currency: Taka
• Independence Day: 26th March