AGARTALA, January 19 (TIWN): Saying that the bilateral relation between India and Bangladesh has stood tall now, Bangladesh Transport Minister Obaidul Kadir during his arrival here in Tripura laid a stress on the Teesta River water sharing issue. The Teesta water sharing requires Give & Take policy, said Minister Obaidul Kadir.

The Bangladesh minister who was accompanied by the Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh, Pankaj Saran held a meeting with Tripura Transport Minister Manik De and other officials at the border checkpost.

Bangladesh Transport Minister Obaidul Kadir talking to the reporters here at the Akhaura Check Post laid a stress on solving all pending issues between India and Bangladesh through a negotiation, the so called Give & Take Policy.  

Kadir said the Land Border Agreement 1974 and water sharing of Teesta River would be solved through negotiation. He told reporters at the Indo-Bangla international border here. Adding to that Kadir said that the negotiation between India and Bangladesh in regard of the exchange of enclaves in the border and sharing of the Teesta River water is fast in progress.

It is mentionable here that Bangladesh and India share 54 common rivers, both big and small. Owing to its lower riparian status, Bangladesh expects an accommodative attitude from India on water-sharing issues. Following the signing of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty in 1996, both sides underscored the necessity of reaching an understanding on sharing the waters of the Teesta. The Joint River Commission – a bilateral institutional mechanism formed by the two countries specifically to deal with these issues – noted that the waters of some other rivers, such as the Manu, Khowai, Gumti, Muhuri, Jaldhaka and Torsa also deserve attention. Both countries have since taken steps to protect riverbanks. 

The Central Water Commission has explored the modalities of a mutually acceptable formula for sharing the Teesta waters on the basis of a report prepared by Kalyan Rudra, the river expert appointed by the Bengal government in late October 2011. Rudra submitted a preliminary report in early December 2012. The committee suggested that the Teesta waters could be shared on a 65 to 35 or 60 to 40 basis at the time of monsoon and on a 70 to 30 ratio during the dry season, when both North Bengal and northwestern parts of Bangladesh face a similar drought-like situation. The Teesta originates in Sikkim near Panhunri glaciers. A key factor that has restricted the flow of water before it enters Bengal has been the construction of more than ten hydroelectric projects over the river in the neighbouring province.

However beside, Beside Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Pankaj Saran said India was trying to simplify and liberalise visa system for Bangladeshis visiting India.Work was also "in progress" for India's long pending demand for access to Chittagong port and provision of transit through the country for the people of northeast desirous of visiting Kolkata, Saran said.

He said the Bangladesh government was "highly hopeful" of the inauguration of second border haat (market) along Kasba-Kamalasagar border, about 30 km from here, and speedy completion of work for the proposed Indo-Bangla bridge over River Feni in South Tripura district.