Bangladesh and India Reached a Consensus for signing of the Teesta Agreement: PM

Laying importance on cooperation on management of the water resources of the common rivers in this region, Sheikh Hasina said, the much-talked about Ganges Barrage would be constructed under a joint initiative with neighbouring countries, as otherwise it may create confusion among them.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the officials of the ministry during her visit to the ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat here today.

She asked the ministry of water resources to take flood control measures and river training keeping pace with nature.

She asked them to allow the rivers to flow normally improving their navigability and be more careful about constructing barrages and sluice gates.

"We need measures to control flood, river training and irrigation for food production and fish culture, but it should not be at the cost of disrupting normal courses of the rivers going against the inherent power of the water and river," she said.

Sheikh Hasina asked the officials to carry out a study on the necessity of existing sluice gates across the country and execution of the present government's river dredging and river training projects.

In this regard, the Prime Minister said, the government is making its constant efforts for signing of the Teesta river water sharing agreement with India.

Minister for Water Resources Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud gave introductory speech. State Minister Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Bir Protik, PM's Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder, PMO Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, secretary of the MoWR Dr. Zafar Ahmed Khan, heads of different division and board under the ministry and senior officials were present.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, the lives and livelihood of the millions of people of the country rotate on water from ancient age as more than four hundred including 57 transboudary rivers crisscrossed the country.

"So, we need development of the water resources and maintain navigability of the rivers to protect the lives and livelihood of the people, protect agriculture, ecology and save the agricultural land from salinity," she said.

Mentioning a number of projects including Meghna-Dhonagoda embankment at Chandpur, the Prime Minister said, the project has caused huge loss for local people despite some benefit. Many canals are drying out permanently because of construction of sluice gate in many areas without proper attention, she said, adding, "Water and rivers have their own strength, we should not overpower them according to our whim."

The Prime Minister said, study is going on country's 30 rivers and their dredging would begin after the study. The government has procured 11 dredgers in this purpose, she added.

Source: BSS