Dhaka awaits Delhi’s nod on Ganges Treaty review

Bangladesh is awaiting India’s response after informing New Delhi about the formation of a new team to review issues related to the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told Parliament on Thursday.

“The government is now awaiting their response,” he said while replying to a supplementary question from Jamaat MP Abdul Alim during the afternoon session.

The 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, signed between Bangladesh and India on December 12, 1996, is due to expire in December this year.

On the Teesta water-sharing issue, Khalilur said Bangladesh has launched a technical assessment

project with China, which is expected to begin soon. Future decisions, he said, would be taken based on the findings of the assessment.

‘Era of submissive diplomacy buried’
Responding to a separate question from BNP MP Fazle Huda, the foreign minister said Bangladesh now stands with dignity because of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s foreign policy.

“Under his leadership, we will continue to advance this policy, and Bangladesh will never bow its head to anyone again. We have buried the era of submissive diplomacy,” he said.

Khalilur said Bangladesh’s embassies abroad are responsible for implementing the country’s foreign policy effectively.

He also criticised what he described as the previous 15 years of misrule, saying Bangladesh did not have full control over its foreign policy during that period and that many embassies lacked the initiative to properly carry out their responsibilities.