The Department of Energy of the United States of America (DOE) and the Ministry of Energy and Minerals Resources, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh (MOEMR) (hereinafter referred to as the "Parties");

Recognizing their mutual interest in consulting and exchanging readily available energy statistics and other energy market information; Desiring to improve information technology processes; and Seeking broader dissemination of available energy information; State their understanding as follows:

The overall objective of cooperation under this Arrangement is to establish for the mutual benefit of the Parties a reasonably balanced exchange of energy information to complement existing energy statistics and other energy market information. The Energy Information Administration, an independent agency under DOE, will represent DOE in performing activities under this Arrangement. MOEMR will designate its agency at a later date.

Cooperation under this Arrangement may include the following: 

1. Exchange of annual energy market statistics (production, imports, exports, stocks, bunkers, transformation, demand, prices, and other data) for petroleum, natural gas, coal electricity, fuel wood, and other forms of energy; 
   
2. Exchange of other related data and information concerning fuel characteristics, fossil fuel heat values, refining capacity, reserves, and other energy information;
3. Exchange of information concerning statistics methods, analytic techniques, and system documentation;
4. Exchange of information about electronic information dissemination; and
5. Other areas as mutually agreed to by the Parties in writing.

The forms of cooperation undertaken by the Parties in the areas specified in Article 2 may

include the following:

1. Assignment of personnel for agreed periods of time in order to participate in analysis, design, and other activities conducted in research centers, laboratories, universities, and other facilities and enterprises of each Party or of associated organizations;
2. Organization of workshops and meetings; and
3. Other such forms of cooperation as the Parties mutually agree in writing. The Parties understand that cooperation under this Arrangement will not include any research and development activities.

The Parties shall establish a Working Group. Each Party shall designate a Co-Chair for the Working Groups to coordinate plans for the overall management of cooperative activities under this Arrangement. The Co-Chairs shall meet as needed in the United States and in Bangladesh to evaluate the status of cooperation under this Arrangement. This evaluation shall include a review of achievements, problems, and effectiveness of activities under this Arrangement. The Co-Chairs shall consider and approve future program opportunities with a view to maximizing the mutual benefits of cooperation.

1. Each Co-Chair shall designate a technical advisor to serve as the point-of-contact for the supervision of activities under the Arrangement.
2. Each Co-Chair may appoint technical coordinators to manage specific cooperative tasks initiated under this Arrangement and to establish and maintain working contacts at the staff level.
3. Meetings of the Working Group or selected members from the Working Group will be help upon agreement of the Co-Chairs.
4. The agendas for all meetings will be determined and agreed to by the Co-Chairs. Minutes will be signed immediately after each meeting.
5. Working Group members will be responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses. It is expected that the Party hosting a meeting of the Co-Chairs will pay the costs for arrangements associated with the meeting.

Parties intend the following provisions to apply to assignment of staff:

1. Each Party will ensure that qualified staff are selected for assignment to the other Party. Each assignment of staff will be the subject of a separate written agreement between the Parties.
2. Each Party will be responsible for the salaries, insurance, and allowances of its personnel. The assigning Party will pay for the travel and living expenses of its personnel, while on assignment to the receiving Party unless the Parties agree otherwise in writing.
3. The receiving Party will arrange for adequate accommodations for the assigned personnel and their families on a mutually agreeable, reciprocal basis.
4. The receiving Party will provide appropriate assistance to the assigned personnel and their families as regards administrative and travel formalities.
5. The assigning Party will ensure that its assigned personnel conform to rules of work and safety regulations in force at the establishment of the receiving Party, or as set forth in the personnel assignment.

The Parties intend that information transmitted by one Party to the other Party under this Arrangement will be accurate to the best knowledge and belief of the transmitting Party.

The Parties understand that:

1. Each Party will conduct its activities provided for under this Arrangement subject to its applicable laws and regulations, subject to the availability of personnel and appropriated funds.
2. The Parties understand that no proprietary, classified, restricted information will be exchanged as a result of the activities under this Arrangement.
3. The Parties understand that, unless otherwise agreed in writing, all costs resulting from activities under this Arrangement will be the responsibility of the Party that incurs them.
4. The Parties understand that this Arrangement is not intended to create legally binding obligations.

1. Cooperation under this Arrangement will commence upon signature, and will continue for five years. The terms of this Arrangement may be altered by the Parties through mutual consultation.
2. If either Party wishes to terminate its activities under this Arrangement, it will give six (6) months advance written notification.

Signed at Dhaka, this 11th day of February, 1999.