Dhaka:The Water Resources Minister, Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, expressed optimism that a new Ganges water-sharing agreement with India would be finalized by December 12, before the expiration of the current treaty.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Minister Anee emphasized that restoring the guarantee clause from the 1977 agreement is a priority for Bangladesh in the new treaty. The existing 30-year agreement is set to expire on December 12. The original five-year agreement signed in 1977 included a guarantee clause, which was omitted in the 1996 treaty. Minister Anee stated that Bangladesh and India are actively collaborating through the Joint Rivers Commission to meet the deadline.
Minister Anee also mentioned that work on the Padma Barrage is expected to become visible between January and March of the following year. The government plans to complete a feasibility study of the Teesta multipurpose project and begin main construction by 2027. Both the Padma Barrage and the Teesta Master Plan are considered significant projects, expected to benefit about one-third of Bangladesh's population once implemented. The Padma Barrage project has received approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC).
He highlighted the importance of technical support from local and foreign experts for the Teesta project, with consultations already conducted with experts from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and other international consultants. The feasibility study for the Teesta project is slated to begin soon, with the main construction work set to start based on the study's findings.
Addressing concerns about foreign pressure or obstacles regarding the Padma Barrage and Teesta projects, Minister Anee reassured that the interests of Bangladesh's citizens remain the government's primary focus. He pointed out that the feasibility study for the Padma Barrage took an extensive period from 2004 to 2016 but was not implemented until the current government took office, showing commitment to advancing these crucial projects.