Bangladesh wants to expedite water cooperation process with India

Peeved by the inordinate delay in reaching agreements on water sharing with India, Bangladesh foreign minister Dipu Moni has said that at this rate the two neighbours would need "a millennium" to sign deals on 54 common rivers.

"In 40 years we have done (agreement) for one (Ganges), (and) are on the verge of doing another one (Teesta's water). At this rate we will need another millennium to conclude agreements on all 54 (rivers)," an official statement here quoted Moni as saying.

"We have to think how to accelerate the process of striking deals on rivers other than the Ganges," she said, pointing out that the present government has attached highest priority towards concluding water sharing treaty of Teesta.

"We finally believe that we shall be able to sign an interim agreement for sharing of the Teesta waters in near future," she said.

The two countries in the past several months witnessed several ministerial and official meetings on the Teesta water issue. After talks with finance minister Pranab Mukherjee three months ago, Moni said an interim deal on the water sharing in the major common river would be signed next year.

Bangladeshi media report, however, earlier reported that despite the absence of the treaty India released substantial quantum of waters opening up regulating systems in the upstream region in the lean period earlier this year infusing some sense of relief among farmers in the northwestern districts.

Under a 1983 understanding Bangladeshis supposed to get 36% share of the flow and India 39% allowing the rests to be flowed naturally.

Bangladesh and India had inked a landmark treaty on sharing of the Ganges water during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's previous 1996-201 tenure removing a major irk in bilateral ties.