Bangladesh-India ties depend on execution of Farakka treaty: Fakhrul
Bangladesh wants the treaty to be executed through discussions in line with the expectations and needs of the people, says Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Local Government Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (16 May) said Bangladesh's relations with India will depend on how the Ganges water-sharing treaty, also known as the Farakka treaty, is implemented.
Speaking at a discussion marking the historic Farakka Long March Day, he said Bangladesh wants the treaty to be executed through discussions in line with the expectations and needs of the people.
"We want to send a clear message to the government of India that this treaty must be implemented immediately through discussions according to the expectations and needs of the people of Bangladesh," said Fakhrul, who is also the ruling BNP's secretary general.
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"Bangladesh's good relations with India will depend on how the Ganges or Farakka treaty is executed," he added.
Highlighting the importance of the Ganges, also known as the Padma River in Bangladesh, Fakhrul said the river is closely linked to the lives, livelihoods and biodiversity of nearly one-third of the country's population.
He said Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani had warned about the potential consequences of the Farakka Barrage long ago, including damage to livelihoods, biodiversity and the environment.
Fakhrul also referred to BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, saying he had internationalised the issue by mobilising public support and later signing a treaty that benefited Bangladesh.
Referring to the history of the agreement, Fakhrul said the country's problems began after permission was given for the operation of the Farakka Barrage in 1976.
He said several agreements had since been signed under different governments, including those led by Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
However, he argued that future agreements should not be limited to a fixed term and said the existing arrangement should remain effective until a new treaty is reached.
Fakhrul noted that the current treaty is set to expire in December and said uncertainty over its renewal has raised concerns about future water-flow arrangements.
He also welcomed the government's decision to move ahead with the Padma Barrage project, saying the initiative has been taken under the direction of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
