Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Thursday said talks with India on renewing the 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty are progressing “in a positive direction” and expressed hope that New Delhi would recognise the pact’s importance.
“We believe the discussions are moving in a positive direction… bilateral negotiations on the treaty are continuing, although every aspect of the discussions cannot be made public at this stage,” she told reporters at the foreign ministry.
Shama said Bangladesh believes India understands the significance of the treaty and the Ganges waters for both countries.
“I believe India will make the right decision taking that into consideration, and with the shared interest of ensuring that our bilateral relationship is not harmed in any way,” she said.
She said the team and committee formed by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman are actively engaging with India despite the limited time left before the treaty expires. However, she declined to elaborate on the ongoing negotiations.
“There is nothing further I can elaborate on at this stage. We remain hopeful,” she said.
Noting that about six months remain before the treaty expires, Shama said the decision on its renewal ultimately rests with India.
“As I said, I hope India appreciates the importance of the Ganges Treaty and will move forward accordingly,” she added.
The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, signed on December 12, 1996, is due to expire in December this year. It governs the sharing of Ganges waters between the neighbours, who also share 54 transboundary rivers. Water-sharing and other river-related issues are discussed through the Joint Rivers Commission, the bilateral mechanism for cooperation on shared water resources.