Bangladesh does not want its friendly ties with India to deteriorate over the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement, a senior Minister has said, urging New Delhi to take into account Dhaka’s interests while pursuing its own.
“The neighbouring country is a friendly country. They have to think that while they have their interests, we also have ours,” Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee was quoted as saying by news portal tbsnews.net at a seminar. “A friend should protect the interests of a friend.
We never want our friendly relations with them to deteriorate,” he said.
A detailed study based on those recommendations would help the government take concrete steps, Mr. Mr.
He said the government had organised several seminars and consultations since the February election to gather expert views on the proposed Teesta project. Anee said at the seminar titled ‘Sustainable Management of the Teesta River’, jointly organised by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Describing the project as a major challenge, the minister said people in five to six northern districts had high expectations from it after suffering for years from river erosion and other problems. Anee said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman regularly discusses the project, while departmental and inter-ministerial meetings review its progress. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in July said that India’s views on the proposed Teesta river project had already been conveyed to the Bangladeshi side.
