Dhaka for fair deal on all common rivers

Bangladesh is now pushing for a fair and comprehensive solution to sharing of water not only of the Teesta but of all the 54 common rivers with India.

Though Dhaka has long been pursuing an interim agreement on equal sharing of the Teesta water only, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina now wants a package solution for the shared rivers.

She has conveyed this message to her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during the latter's recent Dhaka visit.

According to a government high official, who attended the delegation-level talks between the two countries on June 6, Hasina raised the water sharing issue "very boldly and diplomatically" and told Modi that the bilateral ties could reach new heights if this particular issue was resolved.

The PM told Modi that Bangladesh expects India to settle the water sharing issues in a spirit of accommodation. She also laid emphasis on a comprehensive and coordinated management of the common rivers, the official told The Daily Star on Thursday.

In response, Modi termed water sharing a "humanitarian issue", indicating that he does not want to fight with the neighbours over this, which is a good message for Bangladesh, the official said.

According to diplomatic sources, Hasina urged the Indian premier for an early conclusion of the interim deal on the Teesta water sharing as agreed on by both the countries during Modi's predecessor Manmohan Singh's Dhaka visit in September 2011.

In the draft agreement, the water-sharing ratio was kept blank but there was an "understanding" of keeping it 50-50, according to government sources.

"This means if you take 40 percent, we will take 40 percent, and the rest will be kept for navigability. Now that means equal sharing," said a high official of the water resources ministry.

In the joint declaration titled "Notun Projonmo-Nayi Disha" on June 7, the last day of Modi's two-day Dhaka visit, the prime ministers noted that technical-level discussions were being held on various aspects relating to sharing of waters of the Manu, the Muhuri, the Khowai, the Gumti, the Dharla and the Dudhkumar rivers.

The PMs asked the officials concerned to take expeditious action to conclude the water sharing arrangements.

Modi said that deliberations were underway involving all stakeholders for the quickest possible conclusion of the interim deal on water sharing of the Teesta and the Feni rivers.