Summit missed Teesta again
MEDIA report in a national daily on Friday said water sharing of common rivers and particularly of Teesta River remained on backburner again in Hasina-Modi virtual summit held on Thursday. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asserted on this occasion that Bangladesh remains a significant pillar of his country’s neighbourhood first policy which aims at maintaining a strong relation of BJP government with Dhaka. But despite such warm words of good sentiment about Bangladesh, it appears the summit upended once again without finding solutions for protracted disputes over sharing of several common rivers vital to Bangladesh interest.
The summit discussed many other issues including demarcation of borders along common rivers, border fencing, border killings by Indian BSF, and transshipment connectivity. Both sides signed seven instruments including a framework of understanding on cooperation in hydrocarbon sector, a MoU on cooperation in the field of agriculture and Indian government assistance for implementation of high-impact community development projects, a MoU on supply of equipment and improvement of solid waste disposal ground for Barishal City Corporation, a protocol on trans-boundary elephant conservation etc. On Teesta, Bangladesh Prime Minister highlighted the need for an early signing of an interim agreement which is on table for many years. Indian Prime Minister skipped it this time again showing India’s inherent apathy to resolve the water crisis severely impacting agriculture and fisheries in northern part of Bangladesh.
Narendra Modi as usual reiterated his government commitment and continued efforts to find a solution that Indian leaders make on every such occasion almost annually since 2011. It appears that our government is remaining content with the empty Indian government commitments because we have a subservient sold out government dependent on India’s support to win elections and to continue in power. Delhi is exploiting this weakness to its advantage almost ignoring Bangladesh’s suffering.
Bangladesh Prime Minister has also agreed for an early framework to sign interim agreements on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar sidetracking Teesta water sharing. Both sides also agreed to sign MoU for monitoring withdrawal of waters from Kushiyara River and preparing new maps along the stretches of the Ichhamoti, Kalindi, Raimongol and Hariabhanga Rivers. But we wonder how long India deceives Bangladesh while taking away its own interest.
The summit discussed many other issues including demarcation of borders along common rivers, border fencing, border killings by Indian BSF, and transshipment connectivity. Both sides signed seven instruments including a framework of understanding on cooperation in hydrocarbon sector, a MoU on cooperation in the field of agriculture and Indian government assistance for implementation of high-impact community development projects, a MoU on supply of equipment and improvement of solid waste disposal ground for Barishal City Corporation, a protocol on trans-boundary elephant conservation etc. On Teesta, Bangladesh Prime Minister highlighted the need for an early signing of an interim agreement which is on table for many years. Indian Prime Minister skipped it this time again showing India’s inherent apathy to resolve the water crisis severely impacting agriculture and fisheries in northern part of Bangladesh.
Narendra Modi as usual reiterated his government commitment and continued efforts to find a solution that Indian leaders make on every such occasion almost annually since 2011. It appears that our government is remaining content with the empty Indian government commitments because we have a subservient sold out government dependent on India’s support to win elections and to continue in power. Delhi is exploiting this weakness to its advantage almost ignoring Bangladesh’s suffering.
Bangladesh Prime Minister has also agreed for an early framework to sign interim agreements on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar sidetracking Teesta water sharing. Both sides also agreed to sign MoU for monitoring withdrawal of waters from Kushiyara River and preparing new maps along the stretches of the Ichhamoti, Kalindi, Raimongol and Hariabhanga Rivers. But we wonder how long India deceives Bangladesh while taking away its own interest.
