Buoyed by the resolution of the land boundary issue, Bangladesh is now looking up to Narendra Modi for “immediate signing” of the Teesta water-sharing deal as agreed between the governments in Jan 2011.
Prime Minister Modi settled the decades-old land boundary issue with Bangladesh within a year of his assuming office.
The Teesta water deal could not be signed due to the resistance of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in 2011 during the then Congress government’s rule.
Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam made the fresh demand at the inauguration of the India-Bangladesh dialogue on Friday in Dhaka.
They also sought India’s participation in the proposed Ganges Barrage project on the river Padma.
India’s ruling BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, speaking at the function, said New Delhi would solve all issues with Dhaka.
“We are not big brother. We are partners in progress, peace and prosperity,” he said, without making any specific comments on the water issue.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the “bilateral cooperation is based on a ‘win-win’ formula for both countries based on a mutuality of interests”.
Foreign Minister Ali said the settlement of the land boundary issue showed that “anything is possible if political will is there” between India and Bangladesh.
“In fact, we are enjoying the best of relations with India. It has now reached a new height, set a new paradigm,” he observed.
He said water was “a very sensitive and important issue” in Bangladesh-India relations.
“While some issues remain to be resolved in this sector, we are hopeful that in the spirit of good neighbourliness, those would be resolved soon”.
“We have also agreed to sharing the best practices for a basin-wide management of common rivers which is expected to pave the way for full-fledged basin-wide management.
“We believe that this approach holds the key to comprehensively address the water related issues in the region,” the minister said.
State Minister Alam said Bangladesh had “fully delivered by undertaking specific measures to address India’s security concerns”.
“With more and more dedicated institutional mechanisms being put in place we are having better, targeted and coordinated action in various sectors of security.
“And the cooperation will continue,” he said.
“We are looking up to the leadership of Prime Minister Modi for immediate signing of the Teesta Water sharing Agreement as agreed upon between the two governments in January 2011,” he said.
“We intend to deal with all issues of water resources management of common rivers including water sharing in a holistic manner through common basin management. We need India’s assistance in this regard.”
The foreign ministry is holding this two-day dialogue with an private initiative ‘Friends of Bangladesh’, bringing together experts, former diplomats, politicians, academia, and journalists of the two countries.
Water, connectivity, and trade are some of the key issues that will be discussed on the last day on Saturday.
Source: Bd news24
