Bangladesh News

Bangladesh and India began their ministerial-level Joint River Commission talks here yesterday on sharing of waters of the Teesta and other common rivers with Bangladesh Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen terming the discussions “positive”.

Emerging from over three-hour talks with his Indian counterpart Pawan Kumar Bansal at Oberoi Hotel, Ramesh told journalists, “We discussed all issues. The discussions were positive and took place in a conducive atmosphere. We will continue the discussions”.

He however declined to go into details.

Before the talks began, Ramesh said Bangladesh hoped to reach an interim agreement on the vexed issue of Teesta water sharing.

“The expectation is high. We are here to strengthen further the relations between the two countries ” he said when asked whether Bangladesh was hopeful of reaching an interim agreement.

Pawan separately told the media after today’s meeting, “Talks were good and there was a good atmosphere”.

Both sides put forward their views on a range of issues, and agreed to resume the discussions today.

Sources said there are differences between the two countries on the methodology to be used to calculate availability of water in the Teesta in various seasons to reach an agreement on water-sharing.

West Bengal’s Water Resources Minister Subhash Naskar, who was also present at the JRC meeting, said the discussions were “good and there were no negatives”.

Teesta water-sharing, dredging of Ichchamati river, and Farakka barrage figured in yesterday’s discussions but no decision was taken, he said.

Ahead of the JRC meeting, water resources secretaries of the two countries Sheikh Md Wahid-Uz Zaman of Bangladesh and U N Panjyiar of India held three-hour talks at the same hotel.

Senior officials of water resources and foreign ministries of both the countries were also present at the JRC meeting.

Besides Ramesh and Wahid, the Bangladesh delegation included Dr Mashiur Rahman, adviser to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and High Commissioner to India Tariq Ahmed Karim.

Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Mirajul Qayes will join the talks today.

The two-day ministerial-level JRC meet is being held after five years.