‘Mutual understanding can resolve Teesta issues’

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has said the Teesta and Ganges water-sharing issues can be resolved through dialogue and mutual understanding.

“There is no problem which cannot be sorted out with mutual understanding,” he said after separate courtesy meetings with Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed on Wednesday.

Trivedi said the interests of the people of both countries should remain the central consideration in resolving bilateral issues.

“Ultimately, what matters is what benefits the people and the two democracies,” he said.

Asked whether the Teesta water-sharing issue had been discussed during the meetings, the high commissioner said they were courtesy calls. He nevertheless reiterated that no bilateral matter was beyond resolution through dialogue.

On the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, Trivedi said a joint working group comprising officials from Bangladesh and India was actively working on the matter.

“There is no issue which cannot be sorted out,” he said. “The working group is actively doing its work, and whatever is beneficial to the people of both countries will definitely happen.”

The envoy also expressed optimism about a possible visit by the Bangladesh prime minister to India, saying recommendations from the working group could help advance the discussions.

Trivedi described his meetings with the foreign minister and state minister as warm and constructive.
He said Bangladesh and India shared not only a border but also history, culture, sports and common aspirations.

Both countries remained committed to strengthening people-to-people relations and expanding cooperation based on mutual benefit, he added.