We welcome reports that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is intensifying efforts to secure support for a Teesta water-sharing pact ahead of his first visit to Bangladesh on June 6.
Around 9 million people in Bangladesh, especially farmers of boro season rice, have been adversely hit for years by reduced water flows caused by India’s Gazaldoba Barrage and diversion of water to the Mahananda-Mechi-Fulhar Rivers.
Flows from the Teesta into Bangladesh are at a record low according to the Joint Rivers Commission.
The promised new treaty can help to reduce some of the detrimental impacts on Bangladesh and allow farmers to overcome the hardship caused by changes made to seasonal water patterns.
It is absolutely essential to properly implement the mooted pact to uphold the spirit of the Bangladesh-India Ganges water treaty and ensure compliance with the International Convention on Non-navigational Uses of Watercourses.
With the recent successful progress made on implementing the Land Boundary Agreement, there is every reason to hope next month’s visit will seal progress on Teesta and pave the way for further improvements in bilateral relations.
Bangladesh and India both stand to gain by building closer relations. Improving connectivity and lowering non-tariff barriers to mutual trade and investment can help allow both our economies to flourish.
Next month’s talks also offer a chance to advance complementary initiatives being considered by Bimstec and Saarc and serve the common interest of all peoples in our region.
All parties should approach the talks on a win-win basis and not see them as a zero-sum game.