Bangladesh: Bangladesh owes the Indian state of Tripura an astonishing Rs. 161 crore in unpaid electricity bills. The amount has piled up over a few months, increasing by Rs. 135 crore.NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited (NVVN) is a government of India undertaking, which supplies electricity to Bangladesh under a bilateral agreement signed in 2010 with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).According to Ratan Lal Nath, Power Minister of Tripura, the states cannot directly import or export anything to another country; thus, it is all a scheme by the central government. As part of the deal, TSECL offers Bangladesh 60-70 megawatts of power, which averages out based on demand.However, despite getting fewer units of electricity, Bangladesh dues have grown. The outstanding amount is now a big burden for Tripura in terms of finances. The Power Minister Ratan Lal Nath underscored that NVVN has been directed to seek Bangladesh for clearing the due bill amount.This has led intellectuals and political observers to debate on and have some calling for a shutdown of power supplies until their dues are cleared, others linking it to the recent incidents in Bangladesh such as attacks on Hindu communities, and arrest of former ISKCON member Chinmoy Krishna Das.The two countries’ history has been complex when it comes to the relationship because millions of Bangladeshis have been living in India. There is a lot of economic exchange between the countries, millions of Bangladeshis are estimated to reside in India.The unpaid electricity bills would be settled through diplomatic efforts and negotiations between India and Bangladesh. Economic cooperation has been facilitated by the agreement, but timely payments must be made to ensure a healthy partnership.
