Though Dhaka was bypassed at the recent Delhi talks on the planned tri-nation gas pipeline, Energy Ministry adviser Mahmudur Rahman Wednesday said Bangladesh is ready to negotiate with the neighbouring countries, particularly with India, the billion-dollar project, reports UNB.(News Today)

"But the formal proposal has to come first from Indian side," he said, adding that after the bilateral talks between India and Myanmar, the context of talks has changed.

About the recent India-Myanmar meeting on the trans-border pipeline, he said they had tried to resolve the issue on bilateral plane bypassing Bangladesh. "Now, they are again coming to Bangladesh when they felt that the project would not be viable if it is implemented excluding Bangladesh," he observed.

The Energy Ministry custodian told a seminar on energy business at Dhaka Chamber auditorium that Bangladesh would protect its own interests in dealing with the issue.

As per original proposal, the 950-km gas pipeline will be constructed from Myanmar to carry its natural gas to India through Bangladesh.

Earlier, Bangladesh had put forward three conditions to India on the tri-nation gas pipeline that (1) India has to allow Bangladesh to export its goods to Nepal and Bhutan through Indian corridor (2) India has to allow Bangladesh to import electricity from Nepal and Bhutan through Indian corridor and (3) India has to take effective steps to reduce existing trade imbalance with Bangladesh.

Following this Bangladesh stance, India and Myanmar held bilateral talks on the pipeline project recently in the Indian capital in a bid to find a way out bilaterally. But the outcome of the bilateral talks is not yet communicated to Bangladesh.