In a fresh push towards enhanced regional cooperation in South Asia’s energy market, Assam has expressed interest in supplying its surplus electricity to neighboring Bangladesh through the state of Tripura, officials said on Saturday. The development was disclosed by Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, who underscored the strategic importance of cross-border energy trade for both economic development and diplomatic ties.

According to the NDTV report, Dr. Saha told reporters that Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has conveyed his state’s willingness to share excess power with Bangladesh, building on Tripura’s existing electricity export arrangement. Since March 2016, Tripura has been supplying electricity to Bangladesh under successive agreements, and that pact which currently allows up to around 160 megawatts to the neighboring country is due for renewal in March this year, Dr. Saha noted. 

Speaking on the sidelines of a bilateral meeting in Agartala, the Tripura CM said the proposed plan would see Assam channeling its surplus generation through Tripura’s established grid infrastructure. Tripura, a relatively small northeastern state, has already positioned itself as a key energy transit point for power destined for Bangladesh. The extension of this role could further strengthen energy cooperation between India and Dhaka. 

Beyond energy, officials from both states highlighted ongoing discussions to upgrade critical infrastructure along the Assam–Tripura border, especially the Churaibari roadway, to ease logistics and facilitate smoother transmission of goods and electricity. If realised, the expanded electricity export could help Bangladesh meet its growing power needs while enhancing economic interdependence in the region.

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