Urgent Negotiations: Bangladesh’s Interim Government Seeks Crucial Talks with India on Teesta and Shared Rivers | MorungExpress
Dhaka, August 21 (IANS): Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the environment and water resources advisor in Bangladesh’s Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, announced that Dhaka will engage in discussions with New Delhi regarding shared rivers, including the Teesta. “Just as West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee prioritizes her people’s interests, we will also consider the needs of our people in the Teesta project,” Hasan stated during a media briefing, as quoted by the Dhaka Tribune. She emphasized that while maintaining amicable relations with India, the interim government may approach international platforms if necessary.
Hasan, a lawyer and environmentalist, who also serves as the chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers’ Association (BELA), made these remarks after a meeting with Abdoulaye Seck, the World Bank’s Country Director for Bangladesh. She mentioned that the government intends to consider the views of communities living along the Teesta River.
The advisor highlighted the ‘India-Bangladesh Shared Vision for Future’ document released in June, which underscores the significance of water resource management in bilateral relations. This document advocates prioritization of data exchange and the formulation of an interim water-sharing framework as recommended by the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC). A Joint Technical Committee will discuss the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty of 1996, and India will assist Bangladesh in managing the Teesta River within an agreed timeframe.
India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers, with seven identified for priority water-sharing agreements. Established in 1972, the JRC serves as a bilateral mechanism to address common border rivers issues. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India has extended the period of flood data sharing beyond October 15 to aid Bangladesh in flood management.
Hasan also mentioned interim water-sharing agreements on the Kushiyara and Feni rivers, and the ongoing discussions on the Ganga Treaty renewal. Emphasizing the importance of India’s role, Hasan assured that Bangladesh would assert its claims firmly, either bilaterally or internationally, to safeguard the lifelines of its rivers.
Original Story https://www.morungexpress.com/interim-government-in-bangladesh-wants-talks-with-india-on-shared-rivers-including-teesta
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