Bangladesh does not want Teesta dispute to hurt ties with India, says minister
The Teesta begins in the Himalayas and flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh. It eventually joins the Jamuna, which is the Bangladeshi name for the Brahmaputra. The river is particularly important to northern Bangladesh, where farmers depend on its water. It is also important to West Bengal for irrigation and power generation, with several districts in North Bengal…
Bangladesh's Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee emphasized on Sunday that his country does not wish to see its relationship with India suffer due to the ongoing Teesta river dispute. Anee, speaking at a seminar in Dhaka, stated that while Bangladesh recognizes India as a friendly neighbor, it seeks India to consider Bangladesh's interests in its stance.
He reiterated that a friend should protect the interests of a friend and stressed that Bangladesh does not want its friendly ties with India to deteriorate. Anee highlighted that Bangladesh is actively working towards finding a solution to the Teesta dispute, now under the new government, and is also pursuing the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project, with China providing support.
The project aims to tackle recurrent floods, river erosion, and water shortages during the dry season in northern Bangladesh, which is vital for agriculture and livelihoods. Anee mentioned that the government has conducted several seminars and consultations since the February elections to gather expert opinions on the project, with a detailed study based on these recommendations guiding the way forward.
The minister also noted that people in five to six northern districts have high hopes for the project, having endured erosion and other river-related issues for years. Failure to implement the project could lead to increased damage and problems for families in those areas, Anee said. He added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman regularly talks about the project, and government departments are reviewing its progress.
Anee called for an agreement on the river, emphasizing that whether it's referred to as the Teesta treaty, master plan, or any other name, the focus should be on implementing the project. He reiterated their commitment to finding a resolution, stating, "We will move towards implementation. Why the Teesta matters to India and Bangladesh...
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
