Ensuring a fair deal on water sharing will be the main challenge, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said on his first day in office on Monday.
The statement came in view of Bangladesh sharing water with neighbouring India amidst the pending issue of sharing Teesta water.
The Teesta sharing deal, promised during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2011, was stopped by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Later, she cancelled her visit with Manmohan Singh to Dhaka in a gesture of stern opposition regarding sharing of Teesta water.
Though the issue was repeatedly raised during the last government's tenure, the Awami League-led alliance failed to make any real progress in this particular matter.
India appreciated the January 5 parliamentary polls, which was boycotted by the BNP, and was the only major international observer during the polls.
However, the minister from Jatiya Party, the main opposition in the 10th parliament, did not elaborate further on the issue.
Regarding the government’s formation, Anisul Islam said the new government will progress with constructive criticism from the opposition.
“We do not want to be an opposition like the BNP. They boycotted most of the parliament sessions.”
The minister could not elaborate on how long this government will assume office when asked, stating that they “cannot say this beforehand.”
