Bangladesh’s elected government will seek to secure the maximum in the country’s interest in water cooperation with India, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir. He stated that Bangladesh wants a fair share of water from India.
He made these remarks on Thursday (October 8) in response to journalists’ questions at a seminar titled ‘New Thinking on the Future of Water: Youth Leadership, Justice, and Cooperation’.
Humayun Kabir mentioned that international law supports Bangladesh’s position on water sharing. Simultaneously, the support and aspirations of the country’s people are also strengthening Bangladesh’s stance at the negotiating table.
He also stated that effective communication and dialogue among relevant officials are necessary to enhance cooperation between the two countries on water issues. To this end, Bangladesh has already formed a committee and requested the names of representatives from the Indian side.
Regarding the water-sharing agreement between the two countries, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs said that India has been asked for the names of its representatives so that Bangladeshi representatives can initiate dialogue and discussions with them. Awaiting India’s response, he expressed optimism that a positive reply would be received very soon.
He added that once a response is received from India, advancing discussions between the two countries will further pave the way for renewing the next phase of the water agreement.
Humayun Kabir also informed that discussions are underway regarding the sharing of water from 154 common rivers, stating that talks on this matter will continue. He believes that if there is sincerity between the two countries, progress can be achieved through coordinated discussions among senior officials, leadership, and individuals involved in water-related work.
He reiterated that international law is being considered one of the bases for discussions on water sharing, emphasizing that these issues can be resolved through discussions, dialogue, and diplomacy. The positions of international law are also being taken into consideration during the talks.
He also commented that a friendly solution to water issues could be reached if there is a cooperative spirit among the leadership of both countries.
Expressing Bangladesh’s determination to work beyond conventional methods to tackle future crises, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs said that Bangladesh aims to address the country’s future crises and issues in a qualitative manner, rather than adhering to past or conventional approaches.