Diplomatic Correspondent :
The visiting Indian Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, on Monday said that Bangladesh and India are working to finalise an agreement on water sharing of seven common rivers within this year.
“We agreed to expedite harmonization of this data so that water-sharing agreement can be finalized as early as possible, possibly within this year,” he said highlighting the water flow of seven trans-boundary rivers.
On October 5 last year in New Delhi, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart directed the technical level committee of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) to expeditiously exchange updated data and information and prepare the draft framework of ‘interim sharing agreements’ for the six rivers — Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar — and to firm up the draft framework of interim sharing agreement of the Feni River.
Addressing a seminar in the city, the Indian foreign secretary said they that can proceed on sharing the waters of other shared rivers so that there is a positive progress that benefits people on both sides.
On Teesta issue, Shringla said there is no diminishing on the commitment of their government on this issue.
He mentioned that the agreement can only be finalized on the basis of consensus among the stakeholders. “We certainly want to assure you we’re working on conclusion of the agreement as early as possible.”
The Indian foreign secretary said it is self-evident that a good arrangement to share the waters of the 54 rivers that unites the two countries in a manner that is fair and environmentally sustainable that lies in “our broader national interests”.
He assured Bangladeshi friends that India remains “committed to finding the best possible solutions” to sharing scarcities and hardships fairly during the dry season.
The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and Indian High Commission in Dhaka jointly organised the event.
Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi spoke as the chief guest at the seminar highlighting the relationship between the two countries.
BIISS Chairman Ambassador Fazlul Karim, Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das and acting Director General of BIISS Colonel Sheikh Masud Ahmed also spoke at the programme.
The visiting Indian Foreign Secretary, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, on Monday said that Bangladesh and India are working to finalise an agreement on water sharing of seven common rivers within this year.
“We agreed to expedite harmonization of this data so that water-sharing agreement can be finalized as early as possible, possibly within this year,” he said highlighting the water flow of seven trans-boundary rivers.
On October 5 last year in New Delhi, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart directed the technical level committee of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) to expeditiously exchange updated data and information and prepare the draft framework of ‘interim sharing agreements’ for the six rivers — Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar — and to firm up the draft framework of interim sharing agreement of the Feni River.
Addressing a seminar in the city, the Indian foreign secretary said they that can proceed on sharing the waters of other shared rivers so that there is a positive progress that benefits people on both sides.
On Teesta issue, Shringla said there is no diminishing on the commitment of their government on this issue.
He mentioned that the agreement can only be finalized on the basis of consensus among the stakeholders. “We certainly want to assure you we’re working on conclusion of the agreement as early as possible.”
The Indian foreign secretary said it is self-evident that a good arrangement to share the waters of the 54 rivers that unites the two countries in a manner that is fair and environmentally sustainable that lies in “our broader national interests”.
He assured Bangladeshi friends that India remains “committed to finding the best possible solutions” to sharing scarcities and hardships fairly during the dry season.
The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and Indian High Commission in Dhaka jointly organised the event.
Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi spoke as the chief guest at the seminar highlighting the relationship between the two countries.
BIISS Chairman Ambassador Fazlul Karim, Indian High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das and acting Director General of BIISS Colonel Sheikh Masud Ahmed also spoke at the programme.
