‘Mistrust main barrier to water cooperation’

Water sharing issues between the countries should be considered on the basis of need rather than politics, they said at the discussion titled Water Sharing and Ecology under the International Conference, held at the Bangla Academy auditorium.

“If the two nations really want to establish cooperation in the water sector, they will have to get rid of their traditional mistrust,” hydrologist Prof Ainun Nishat said.

If a joint management of the three river systems – Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna – can be established between the countries, many problems including flood management, river erosion and restoration of river navigability could be solved, he said.

The former member of the Joint River Commission Bangladesh also said that besides the water flow calculation, the countries need to consider the issue of sediment and ecology while talking about water sharing as those are integral parts of a river system.

Bangladesh and India share 54 common rivers, the two largest ones being Ganges and Brahmaputra.

He also urged the need for implementing the protocol signed between Bangladesh and India in 2011, which contains a clear direction on establishing joint basin management to manage the region’s water systems.

The Conference was jointly organised by Bangladesh Itihash Sammilani and Center for East and North-East Regional Studies -Kolkata (CENERS-K).

Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said that both countries will suffer if they cannot overcome the situation by establishing cooperation on water.

Citing the example of Teesta Water Sharing Treaty between Bangladesh and India, he also said that the issue was hanging on political decisions only.

However, he said that Bangladesh, India, Bhutan and Nepal have had more conversations on water and energy sharing than before and that may ease the situation.

Regarding Teesta, the minister expressed hope that the treaty will be signed soon and that it will be a step forward to ensure regional cooperation on water.