Dhaka: Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee today pledged to make the Padma Barrage plan operational and visible by January-February next year, emphasizing the significance for seven crore people across 24 to 26 districts.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister expressed optimism that the Prime Minister would deliver a compelling statement supporting Bangladesh at the United Nations regarding the Ganges Water Treaty next month. Anee’s comments were made during a seminar titled “Ganges Water Treaty: Issues for Renegotiation” at the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) auditorium in Dhanmondi, where he served as the chief guest.
During the seminar, recommendations were made to establish the right to information in future water-sharing treaties and to revive the “guarantee clause” that was removed from the 1977 treaty. State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, speaking as the special guest, underscored the need for greater awareness about the navigability challenges of the country’s 54 rivers to ensure long-term water security for Bangladesh.
The seminar featured a keynote presentation by former adviser to the Interim Government and Dhaka University Law Professor Asif Nazrul, titled “Ganges Treaty: New Thinking Needed”. The event was opened with a welcome address by BILIA Honorary Director and Dhaka University Law Professor Muhammad Ekramul Haque.
Prof. Dr. M. Feroze Ahmed, Emeritus Professor of Stamford University Bangladesh and former BUET professor, participated as a discussant, emphasizing the importance of reviewing Bangladesh’s sector-wise water requirements under Integrated Water Resource Management prior to formulating demands. BILIA Chairman and Dhaka University Law Professor Dr. Borhan Uddin Khan delivered the concluding remarks.
Senior government officials, lawyers, academics, researchers, diplomats, and university students attended the seminar, indicating a wide interest in the ongoing water-sharing discussions.