India has proposed Bangladesh join the Global Biofuel Alliance (GBA), an international initiative spearheaded by Delhi and Washington and aimed at fostering collaboration in the adoption of sustainable biofuels.
According to Energy Division officials, Bangladesh is currently reviewing India’s proposal. It is expected that there may be a bilateral discussion on this issue during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India on 8 September.
Experts say Bangladesh is not a member of any global alliance led by the United States. If Bangladesh joins the Global Biofuel Alliance, it would be the first such alliance that will facilitate close interactions between the two countries on common grounds.
As the current relationship between Bangladesh and the United States is strained, by participating in this alliance, there may be opportunities to foster improved relations through discussions on various issues, they added.
After the ninth US-Bangladesh Security Dialogue, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told reporters that US representatives have consistently stressed the importance of regular exchanges of views between the two countries.
Produced from biomass, biofuels can be used to replace fossil fuels in a variety of applications, including transportation, heating, and electricity generation. Biofuel is considered to be a renewable energy source.
More than a dozen countries participated at the event including Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, India, Italy, Kenya, Mauritius, Paraguay, Seychelles, the United Arab Emirates, Uganda and the United States. The heads of nine international organisations also took part in the event.
Ahead of the prime minister’s upcoming visit to India, on 7 August, the Energy and Mineral Division sent letters to various ministries seeking their views on India’s proposal to join the alliance as a founding member.
The Indian High Commission in Bangladesh has also sent a letter on the issue to the Prime Minister’s Office, foreign ministry and energy division.
Tags: Bangladesh, Biofuels, Global Biofuel Alliance, India, US
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