BSS, Dhaka :
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had introduced the water diplomacy in the independent Bangladesh by forming a Joint River Commission (JRC) in 1972 through a joint-declaration with the neighboruing India.
Bangabandhu formed the JRC aiming to ensure equity share of water of the transboundary rivers flowing through Bangladesh and India, according to JRC officials.
The water diplomacy of Bangabandhu, subsequently, became successful after signing the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty 1996 by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her then Indian counterpart HD Deve Gowda in December, 1996 in New Delhi.
As per the agreement signed for 30 years, Bangladesh is supposed to get 35,000 cusec (cubic feet per second) of water from the Ganges River in alternate three 10-day periods from January 1 to May 31 while India is supposed to get 40,000 cusec of water if the water flow is 75,000 cusec or above at Farakka Barrage point. Otherwise, both countries are supposed to get equal share of water.
When Bangladesh faces scarcity of water during dry season every year, it raises voice demanding equity share of water from common rivers, including the Ganges River, to meet its growing water demand. During the dry season, upper countries including India divert water from common rivers to other rivers to meet their domestic water demand, violating the international laws.
As per the joint-declaration by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indira Gandhi, a statute of the India-Bangladesh JRC was signed in Dhaka on November 24, 1972 aiming to ensure proper watershed management of trans-boundary rivers.
The then Secretary of the Minister of Flood Control and Water Resources Shafiqul Haque and then Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Subimal Datta signed the statute on behalf of their respective sides.
“After the independence of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu realised the importance of water resource management and its development, and that’s why he took initiatives in this regard,” JRC Member Md Mufazzal Hossain told BSS.
In March 1972, he said, the JRC was established as per the Bangladesh-India joint-declaration for permanent management of the water resources, adding that the JRC is now working for joint management of water resources of common rivers.
In addition, the JRC is exchanging data of common rivers with China, Nepal and Bhutan, Mufazzal said.
The JRC officials said there are about 405 rivers in the country and of them, 57 are trans-boundary rivers.
India and Bangladesh are sharing 54 trans-boundary rivers while Bangladesh has three rivers with Myanmar, they said.
The prime minister reiterated that the box culverts built illegally in the
city destroying the water drainage system and canals would be demolished if her government comes to power next time.
The water channels would be restored and elevated roads would be constructed there for vehicular movement.
Multi-storey housing facilities would be extended to Dhaka’s suburban areas to reduce pressure on the capital, she said.
Sheikh Hasina appreciated the WASA employees for their sincere services to make the public utility body as an effective one during the tenure of her government.
Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had introduced the water diplomacy in the independent Bangladesh by forming a Joint River Commission (JRC) in 1972 through a joint-declaration with the neighboruing India.
Bangabandhu formed the JRC aiming to ensure equity share of water of the transboundary rivers flowing through Bangladesh and India, according to JRC officials.
The water diplomacy of Bangabandhu, subsequently, became successful after signing the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty 1996 by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her then Indian counterpart HD Deve Gowda in December, 1996 in New Delhi.
As per the agreement signed for 30 years, Bangladesh is supposed to get 35,000 cusec (cubic feet per second) of water from the Ganges River in alternate three 10-day periods from January 1 to May 31 while India is supposed to get 40,000 cusec of water if the water flow is 75,000 cusec or above at Farakka Barrage point. Otherwise, both countries are supposed to get equal share of water.
When Bangladesh faces scarcity of water during dry season every year, it raises voice demanding equity share of water from common rivers, including the Ganges River, to meet its growing water demand. During the dry season, upper countries including India divert water from common rivers to other rivers to meet their domestic water demand, violating the international laws.
As per the joint-declaration by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indira Gandhi, a statute of the India-Bangladesh JRC was signed in Dhaka on November 24, 1972 aiming to ensure proper watershed management of trans-boundary rivers.
The then Secretary of the Minister of Flood Control and Water Resources Shafiqul Haque and then Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Subimal Datta signed the statute on behalf of their respective sides.
“After the independence of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu realised the importance of water resource management and its development, and that’s why he took initiatives in this regard,” JRC Member Md Mufazzal Hossain told BSS.
In March 1972, he said, the JRC was established as per the Bangladesh-India joint-declaration for permanent management of the water resources, adding that the JRC is now working for joint management of water resources of common rivers.
In addition, the JRC is exchanging data of common rivers with China, Nepal and Bhutan, Mufazzal said.
The JRC officials said there are about 405 rivers in the country and of them, 57 are trans-boundary rivers.
India and Bangladesh are sharing 54 trans-boundary rivers while Bangladesh has three rivers with Myanmar, they said.
The prime minister reiterated that the box culverts built illegally in the
city destroying the water drainage system and canals would be demolished if her government comes to power next time.
The water channels would be restored and elevated roads would be constructed there for vehicular movement.
Multi-storey housing facilities would be extended to Dhaka’s suburban areas to reduce pressure on the capital, she said.
Sheikh Hasina appreciated the WASA employees for their sincere services to make the public utility body as an effective one during the tenure of her government.
