Teesta Water Sharing Dispute Needs Resolution, Says Dr Yunus
Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of the interim government, emphasized the need to address water distribution issues between the two countries following international law. He shared these insights during an interview with India's state-owned Press Trust of India (PTI), which was published on Friday, September 6. The interview took place at his official residence in Dhaka last Sunday.
In the interview, Dr. Yunus stated, "The interim government plans to engage with India to resolve the longstanding Teesta river water-sharing dispute. This issue has been unresolved for quite some time."
He further noted, "Continuing to leave it unresolved serves no purpose. It would be more beneficial to agree on a specific allocation of water, even if it's not ideal, and move forward. This matter needs to be settled."
Dr. Yunus also highlighted that this is not a new issue but one that has persisted for many years. He recalled that discussions on this topic began under the Pakistan regime and noted that while there was readiness from the Indian government to finalize the agreement, the West Bengal state government was not prepared at that time. "We need to find a solution," he said.
He underscored the rights of lower riparian countries like Bangladesh, stating, "We must resolve this issue according to international norms. Lower riparian countries have specific rights, and we are determined to uphold those rights."
Regarding the recent flooding in Bangladesh and allegations that these floods are linked to actions in India, Dr. Yunus suggested adopting a humanitarian approach to manage such crises until the treaty is finalized.
The Teesta water-sharing agreement has been stalled since September 2011 due to opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who cited water scarcity in her state. Although an agreement was poised to be signed during then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in 2011, Chief Minister Banerjee's refusal to endorse it prevented the deal from being finalized.
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