Newly appointed Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud has said he wants to ease the ‘discomfort’ between Dhaka and Delhi over Teesta water-sharing.
Talking to bdnews24.com at his Secretariat office on Wednesday, Mahmud said resolving the the issue with India was on his list of priorities.
He, however, said he wanted to take ‘a bit time’ to pursue the contentious matter with the neighbour where parliamentary elections were coming up soon.
“I’ll try to solve the issue. At present, the election process is on in India. I’ll take the initiative to discuss the matter immediately after the polls,” he said.
Mahmud, a Presidium member of the Jatiya Party and former Foreign Minister during HM Ershad’s regime, said he gave great importance to relations with India.
“(Bangladesh) should maintain good ties with India. The discussion on the issues will be advanced maintaining the good relation.”
The new minister said he would give priority to water management and expansion of irrigation.
He wants an increase in the allocation for his ministry as it is ‘too small’ compared to the need.
File Photo
According to him, the ministry got an allocation of Tk 17 billion in the current financial year against the requirement of Tk 35 billion to implement ongoing projects.
He said project operation and maintenance needed Tk 30 billion but got only Tk 4 billion allocation.
Mahmud wishes to launch new irrigation projects. “Importance will be given to use of surface water instead of underground water in farming.”
He plans to have a special programme to prevent water pollution.
The minister said he was determined to combat corruption at the Bangladesh Water Development Board.
No session boycott
Islam said the Jatiya Party would play the ‘proper’ role of the Opposition in Parliament, although he had joined the Cabinet.
He said: “There will be no problem (for the Jatiya Party) to play the role of the Opposition despite joining the government. Opposition’s responsibility is to play a constructive role.”
Islam assured that the Jatiya Party would never boycott any Parliament session.
“Government’s activities will certainly be criticised. If need be, the party will stage walkouts.”
He said they wanted to bring dynamism in the party through reorganisation, and begin a ‘political process’ to have an election in which all parties would take part.
Mahmud has been elected MP from Hathazari in Chittagong for the second consecutive term – this time uncontested.
Born on Dec 20, 1947, he studied economics and law. He did his BA (Hons) in economics from Dhaka University in 1969 and MSC in economics from Quaid-i-Azam University in 1970. He also got his MA in economics degree from Essex University in 1975 and Barrister-at-Law in 1973.
He has a son and a daughter.
Mahmud was elected MP in 1986 and 1988 elections too.
Source: Bd news24
