Nepal, Feb. 26 -- Nepal's hopes of promptly signing a power sale deal with Bangladesh have been dashed with the Bangladeshi side seeking negotiations to reduce the prices quoted by the Nepal Electricity Authority.

Once the two sides agree on tariffs, it will pave the way for the first-ever trading of power between the two countries.

Officials at the Electricity Authority (NEA) and the energy ministry said that the Bangladeshi side wanted to cut the price quoted by the Nepali utility through negotiations.

"After Nepal stood its ground that the price it quoted was reasonable, they first wanted to discuss the matter with higher authorities," said an NEA official.

A team led by NEA executive director Kul Man Ghising was in Bangladesh last...