Dhaka Bangladesh on Sunday signed a $1.5-billion deal with NTPC to build a 1,320 -MW coal-fired power plant, the country's biggest, to help ease acute power shortages.

Bangladesh's state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) struck the 50:50 joint venture deal with public sector National Thermal Power Company (NTPC). Under the pact, a JV company will be floated to install and operate the plant, while the PDB and the NTPC will implement the $1.5-billion project.