Gowher Rizvi: Bangladesh to press India for Teesta treaty

Bangladesh is going to press for resolving the proposed Teesta water sharing treaty during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to India. Hasina’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi came up with the statement in an interview with the WION, an international news entity, published on March 12. “We will press for and push for Teesta [water sharing pact], even though we understand there are difficulties on the Indian side,” said Gowher replying to a query about the expected outcome of the prime minister’s India visit, slated for the first half of April. Among other things, the proposed Ganges barrage project would be brought to discussion. “We will obviously want to talk about Ganges barrage project that would be hugely beneficial to Bangladesh and to the people of India,” he added. Asked whether or not China partnership with Bangladesh appears to be very pleasing to India, Gowher Rizvi said: “Both China and India have encouraged us to have cordial relations with the other. What is important to India and China? Neither India nor China wishes to dominate Bangladesh. “What is in their best interest is a politically stable, prosperous Bangladesh. We are not aligned to anybody. There is absolutely no question of being aligned to anybody.” The adviser to the prime minister further elaborated that Bangladesh has no reasons to align with anybody, but it is the national interest to maintain good relations with all the neighbours including Myanmar. He also mentioned that the country had been trying to resolve the Rohingya issue with Myanmar and  “constantly endeavouring to make efforts to improve relations.” For Gowher, it is connectivity that lies at the heart of Bangladesh’s policy on international relations. “We have established connectivity with Nepal, with Bhutan and with India. We have unlimited duty-free access to Indian market. Our economy is fast expanding. Bangladesh is becoming a rapidly growing market for exporters of other countries. In these circumstances why should anybody venture to think that we should change our policy and become aligned to one or the other?”