Relations with India depends on Ganga water-sharing agreement – Bangladesh

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir

Dhaka (Bangladesh) – ‘The future of relations with India will depend upon the Ganga water-sharing agreement’, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, General Secretary of Bangladesh’s ruling BNP party and Minister for Rural Development, said. The Ganga water-sharing agreement signed between India and Bangladesh in 1996 is set to expire in December this year. For Bangladesh, the Ganga River — known there as the ‘Padma’ — is considered extremely important for agriculture, biodiversity and water supply.

Speaking at a programme organised in Dhaka, Alamgir stated that Bangladesh wishes to send a clear message to India that the new agreement should be in accordance with the needs and interests of the Bangladeshi people. He further suggested that until a new agreement is reached, the current agreement should continue. He also proposed that future water agreements should not be bound by any fixed time limit.

India has stated that regular discussions are continuing through established bilateral mechanisms on all water-related matters between the two countries.

Editorial Perspective

Bangladesh is attempting to put pressure on India through such statements. Keeping this in mind, India too must respond in a language that Bangladesh will understand!