Nepal has resumed the export of hydroelectric power to Bangladesh through India’s electricity transmission network, marking the beginning of a new seasonal energy trade cycle under a pioneering trilateral cooperation arrangement.
The cross-border power flow restarted at midnight, reaffirming a regional energy partnership that has emerged as a model for South Asian cooperation. Under the agreement, Nepal will supply electricity to Bangladesh from mid-June to mid-November, a period that coincides with peak hydropower generation in Nepal and heightened electricity demand in Bangladesh.
Speaking to reporters in Dhaka, Nepali Ambassador Ghanashyam Bhandari described the resumption of the supply as a significant milestone for regional connectivity and energy security.
“This season’s power trade begins at midnight today. Under the agreement, electricity will be supplied from Nepal to Bangladesh during the high-demand season in Bangladesh and the peak hydropower production period in Nepal,” he said.
Nepal first exported electricity to Bangladesh through India in 2024 as a pilot initiative. During that initial phase, power was transmitted for only one day to test the viability of the arrangement. The successful trial paved the way for a full seasonal supply programme in 2025, which operated from mid-June to mid-November.
For the 2026 season, Nepal will once again supply 40 megawatts (MW) of hydroelectric power to Bangladesh using India’s transmission infrastructure. Although the volume is relatively modest compared to the energy requirements of Bangladesh and the vast hydropower potential of Nepal, officials view the arrangement as strategically important.
Ambassador Bhandari acknowledged that 40 MW represents only a small fraction of the region’s energy needs but stressed the symbolic and practical significance of the initiative.
“Forty megawatts is very small compared to Bangladesh’s growing demand and Nepal’s energy potential. However, this remains a milestone because it is the first trilateral power trade arrangement of its kind in the region,” he said.
The project demonstrates how regional cooperation can help countries maximise their comparative advantages. Nepal possesses abundant hydropower resources generated by its Himalayan rivers, Bangladesh has increasing electricity demand driven by economic growth, and India provides the transmission infrastructure that enables power exchange between the two neighbours.
Officials also indicated that the partnership could expand further in the near future. Nepal and Bangladesh have already agreed on a proposal to increase the electricity supply by an additional 20 MW, raising the total export volume to 60 MW. The proposal is currently awaiting consideration and approval from Indian authorities.
Energy experts view the initiative as an important step toward creating a more integrated South Asian power market. Enhanced cross-border electricity trade could improve energy security, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and promote the use of renewable energy resources across the region.
For Nepal, the arrangement offers an opportunity to monetise its growing hydropower capacity, while Bangladesh gains access to clean electricity to help meet rising demand. India, meanwhile, reinforces its role as a regional energy hub by facilitating power transmission and strengthening economic connectivity among neighbouring countries.
As the latest supply cycle begins, the trilateral partnership is being seen as a successful example of regional collaboration that could pave the way for larger energy-sharing projects across South Asia in the years ahead.
