Dhaka, Delhi on same page over water-sharing: foreign minister
Negotiations going on to some extent
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen yesterday hoped that the water-sharing issues between Bangladesh and India would be resolved through discussions, as the two countries are “mentally agreed” to work on the basis of mutual understanding.
He said the two countries’ diplomacy over common rivers is good, as the two countries are mentally on the same page, though negotiations are going on to some extent.
The foreign minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating a workshop on water diplomacy at the Foreign Service Academy in the city.
The crucial Teesta water-sharing agreement, negotiated for over nearly 20 years, still remained unsettled.
He mentioned that there are 54 common rivers, and the two countries share the same mindset and approach over water-sharing.
Dr Momen said time has come to talk about the Bangladesh-India Ganges water-sharing deal afresh, which was signed in 1996 after long negotiations. The 30-year deal will expire by 2026.
“The historic Ganga water-sharing agreement was signed due to dynamic leadership of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” he said.