Jannatul Ferdousy 
An agreement on setting up of a regional power grid is likely to be signed shortly provided Myanmar, an important partner in the process gives its consent. 
A meeting, in this conncetion, of the Specialist Task Force under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) was held on Monday in Dhaka.
The meeting discussed elaborately various aspects of the regional power grid. A representative from Myanmar was also present in the meeting. All but Myanmar in the Task Force agreed in principle on setting up of the regional grid. However, sources told this correspondent that Myanmar would give its consent shortly and the agreement would also be signed.
If it happens members of the regional grouping can buy and sell power commercially in the regional market.  Every member country of the BIMSTEC will be connected with the grid.  Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand are members of the BIMSTEC.
The members under the planned agreement will exchange power and energy land by paying land transmission tax. According to experts, problems relating to borders of the BIMSTEC countries will be removed to operationalize the agreement.   Chief Engineer of the Power Development Board (PDB) Mizanur Rahman said that signing of this agreement would make the process of having other agreements between the neighboring countries agreement would be easier.
An official of the Power Division said, "We discussed inter-country power exchange issue also. The agreement will help improve the power sector. For safety of the power sector the agreement will play a key role for the region. Without exchange of energy no country can secure its power and energy sector." "Already we have started power exchange with India. Myanmar is a potential country for hydro power," he observed.