Bangladesh’s interim government wants to resume talks with India on terrorism. Teesta Water Sharing TreatyWater resources consultant Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that upper and lower riparian countries should follow international principles regarding water distribution.
while talking to PTI In Dhaka, Ms. Hassan expressed confidence that the Teesta Treaty and other water-sharing agreements with India would be resolved amicably through negotiations, but suggested that Bangladesh could consider international legal documents and principles if an agreement could not be reached.
What is the situation regarding Teesta water sharing?
He said, “I have discussed the issue of Teesta water sharing with all the concerned stakeholders (in Bangladesh). We have discussed that we need to restart the process and negotiations regarding the Teesta treaty. We also have to work on the Ganga treaty, which is going to expire in two years.” PTI In an interview on Sunday (September 1, 2024).
“Both sides agreed and the Teesta water sharing agreement was drafted, but the agreement was not signed Due to opposition from the Chief Minister of West BengalHe said, “The truth is that we have not been able to finalise the agreement. So, we will start from that point with the draft agreement and urge India to come forward and restart the dialogue process.”
India and Bangladesh were about to sign an agreement on Teesta water sharing during then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in 2011, but West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to support it, citing water shortage in her state.
“We will try to find an amicable solution. Since this is an international water issue, it is also related to consideration of the legal rights of other countries. So, it is not clear to us how much water is available and whether it is sufficient. Even if very little water is available, the flow to Bangladesh should continue because of international sharing norms,” he said.
Ms. Hassan said that the issue of sharing of international waters could be better resolved if both the upper riparian and lower riparian countries follow certain international legal principles.
“Bangladesh can consider supporting international legal principles and documents regarding water sharing. This is what I mean when I say we can get involved at the international level,” the renowned Bangladeshi environmentalist said.
The 56-year-old adviser to Bangladesh’s Department of Water, Forest, Environment and Climate Change said the interim government has not yet discussed taking the water sharing issue with India to the international forum.
“I don’t think we have discussed it yet. I think the first step for Bangladesh would be to resolve the issue with India and Nepal. We have not discussed raising the matter with any other country at this stage,” he said, stressing that “the issue can be resolved amicably with India.”
When asked about the failure of the then Awami League government to finalise the Teesta agreement with India, Ms. Hassan said, “It could not come to fruition for so many years because of the political context of Bangladesh. Now that the political context of Bangladesh has changed, and some actors have changed, the arguments may also change. So, we will first try to resolve it bilaterally, and then we will consider taking it to the international level,” she said.
Over 200 rivers flow through Bangladesh, of which 54 flow through India’s upper riparian areas. Hassan wondered why the two countries, which share so many rivers, have water agreements on only eight rivers.
Speaking about India-Bangladesh relations in the context of water-sharing treaties between the two countries, Ms. Hassan said that the people of Bangladesh want these treaties to be concluded as soon as possible.
He said, “I think it is important to demonstrate friendship in any relationship. Friendship should be demonstrated. When there was a suffocating situation in Bangladesh because people were not allowed to vote for years, there was a feeling that India favours only one political party. With the floods in Bangladesh, people want this water-sharing treaty to be expedited and an early warning mechanism to save lives from floods.”
Speaking about floods in Bangladesh, Ms. Hassan said there is a need for joint efforts on early warning mechanisms.
“Bangladesh and India share the waters of 54 rivers. The truth is that the two countries have been able to conclude water-sharing agreements for only eight rivers. Therefore, the area of Bangladesh affected by flash floods does not fall under the ambit of prior notice agreements,” he said.
The Ramon Magsaysay Award winner said water-sharing agreements can be complex and challenging for upper and lower riparian countries, but “this early warning is not that complicated. It is more on a humanitarian basis,” stressing the importance of simply sharing information.
He said the crisis had “provided an opportunity for Bangladesh to address this issue with India, and stressed that the two countries can learn from this situation and should initiate a dialogue on river water management”, especially as climate change is likely to increase the frequency of such disasters.
Ms Hassan also said that the interim government has “not yet taken any decision” regarding the extradition of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, but the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is committed to ensuring justice for the people of Bangladesh.
“The interim government has not really taken any decision on this. However, the interim government is committed to ensuring justice for all the atrocities committed (by the Sheikh Hasina regime) against the people of Bangladesh. I am sure the person who leaves the country at that time will be one of the main accused,” he said.
“In that case, if justice compels us to take a decision on his extradition, we will have to sit together and decide. Once the decision is taken, you all will be informed,” he said.
Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India following unprecedented anti-government protests that reached a peak on August 5. Hasina’s stay in India for more than three weeks has fuelled speculation in Bangladesh.