During the meeting held on the sidelines of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the two leaders exchanged views on cooperation in transit and potential trade in energy between the two South Asian countries.

Strengthening Saarc also figured in the talks, Nepal’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations said in a statement. Koirala invited Hasina to the 18th Saarc Summit to be held in Kathmandu on November 26 and 27.

According to Bangladeshi media, the prime ministers discussed issues of bilateral interest such as increasing regional connectivity and use of Nepal’s hydroelectricity by Bangladesh. Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Shahidul Huque briefed reporters after the meeting that Koirala had requested Hasina to establish a road link between Nepal and Bangladesh via Fulbari and Banglabandha.

“Talks are underway with India and I am hopeful of progress soon,” he said. In this connection, a technical-level tri-nation meeting between Bangladesh, India and Nepal would be held in New Delhi. The meeting, whose date is unspecified, would also discuss the issue of sharing power and energy resources by the countries in the region.

The Bangladeshi prime minister expressed interest in jointly investing in hydropower projects in Nepal. With an aim to trade power with neighbours, Nepal recently signed two landmark agreements with India—power trading agreement and project development agreement with GMR.

Koirala meets Sharif

On the sidelines of the UNGA, Koirala met Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif in New York on Thursday. The two exchanged views on the political situation of their countries, ties between the two nations and the upcoming Saarc Summit.

They emphasised the importance of holding a meeting of the Nepal-Pakistan Joint Economic Commission.

In another bilateral engagement, Wendy Sherman, under secretary of US State for Political Affairs, met Koirala and learned about the peace process in Nepal.