Bangladesh’s caretaker authorities needs to restart dialogue with India on the Teesta water-sharing treaty, water sources adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan stated, saying the higher and decrease riparian nations ought to adhere to worldwide ideas on water sharing.
Speaking with PTI In Dhaka, Ms Hasan expressed confidence that the Teesta Treaty and different water-sharing agreements with India can be resolved amicably by way of dialogue, however advised that Bangladesh might think about worldwide authorized paperwork and ideas if no settlement might be reached.
What’s the fact about sharing of Teesta river waters?
“I’ve mentioned the difficulty of sharing Teesta water with all related stakeholders (in Bangladesh). We’ve talked about the necessity to restart the method and dialogue on the Teesta treaty. We additionally have to work on the Ganga treaty, which is able to come to an finish in two years,” he stated. PTI in an interview on Sunday (September 1, 2024).
“Each side agreed and a draft settlement was ready for sharing Teesta water, however the settlement was not signed on account of opposition from the West Bengal Chief Minister. The actual fact is that now we have not been capable of finalise the settlement. Subsequently, we’ll begin from that time with the draft settlement and urge India to return ahead and restart the dialogue course of,” he stated.
India and Bangladesh had been set to signal a deal to share Teesta water throughout then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s go to to Dhaka in 2011, however West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee refused to endorse it, citing water shortage in her state.
“We are going to attempt to discover an amicable resolution. As that is a world water concern, it additionally impacts the consideration of the authorized rights of different nations. Subsequently, we’re not clear how a lot water is accessible and whether or not it’s sufficient. Even when there may be little or no water accessible, the circulate should proceed to Bangladesh on account of worldwide distribution guidelines,” he stated.
Ms. Hasan famous that the difficulty of worldwide water sharing may be higher managed if each higher and decrease riparian nations adhere to sure worldwide authorized ideas.
“Bangladesh might think about supporting worldwide authorized ideas and paperwork on water sharing. That’s what I imply once I say we might have interaction on the worldwide stage,” stated the famend Bangladeshi environmentalist.
The 56-year-old adviser to Bangladesh’s Division of Water, Forest, Atmosphere and Local weather Change stated the interim authorities has not but mentioned taking over the difficulty of water sharing with India on the worldwide discussion board.
“I don’t assume now we have mentioned it but. I believe step one for Bangladesh might be to take it up with India and Nepal. We’ve not mentioned taking this concern to every other nation at this stage,” he stated, asserting that “the matter may be resolved amicably with India.”
Requested concerning the failure of the erstwhile Awami League regime to seal the Teesta take care of India, Ms Hasan stated, “It didn’t work all these years due to the political context that Bangladesh was going by way of. Now that the political context of Bangladesh has modified, and a few actors have modified, the arguments might also change. So, we’ll first attempt to resolve it bilaterally, after which we’ll think about taking it to a world stage,” she stated.
Bangladesh is crisscrossed by greater than 200 rivers, 54 of that are transboundary rivers with higher India, throughout 4 main basins. Hasan puzzled why each nations, which share so many rivers, have water agreements on solely eight rivers.
Talking on India-Bangladesh relations within the context of the water sharing treaty between the 2 nations, Ms. Hasan stated that the individuals of Bangladesh need the treaties to be concluded on the earliest.
“I believe it is very important reveal friendship in any relationship. Friendship must be demonstrated. When there was a suffocating scenario in Bangladesh as individuals weren’t allowed to vote for years, there was a sense that India was favouring just one political get together. With these floods in Bangladesh, individuals need this water sharing treaty to be expedited and early warning mechanisms to be put in place to guard lives from floods,” he stated.
Talking concerning the floods in Bangladesh, Ms. Hasan stated that concerted efforts are wanted on early warning mechanisms.
“Bangladesh and India share 54 rivers. The actual fact is that the 2 nations have been capable of conclude water sharing agreements for under eight rivers. Subsequently, the area of Bangladesh affected by flash floods isn’t coated by advance info agreements,” he defined.
Prize recipient Ramon Magsaysay stated that whereas water-sharing preparations may be complicated and difficult for each higher and decrease riparian nations, “this early warning isn’t that sophisticated. It’s extra of a humanitarian concern,” emphasizing the significance of merely sharing info.
He stated the disaster introduced “a chance for Bangladesh to handle the difficulty with India and confused that each nations can be taught from the scenario and will provoke a dialogue on river water administration,” particularly as local weather change is more likely to improve such disasters.
Ms Hasan additionally stated the interim authorities has “not but taken any determination” relating to the extradition of former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from India, however the interim authorities led by Nobel Laureate Md Yunus is dedicated to making sure justice for the individuals of Bangladesh.
“The caretaker authorities has not taken any determination on this regard, nevertheless it has dedicated to making sure justice for all of the atrocities dedicated towards the individuals of Bangladesh (by the Sheikh Hasina regime). I’m positive that the one who left the nation at the moment might be one of many essential accused,” she stated.
“In that case, if justice forces us to decide on his extradition, now we have to take a seat down and determine collectively. As soon as a call is made, you’ll all be told,” he added.
Following unprecedented anti-government protests that reached a climax on August 5, Sheikh Hasina resigned as prime minister and fled to India. Hasina’s presence in India for greater than three weeks has given rise to hypothesis in Bangladesh.
