Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee MP said Bangladesh will give the highest priority to water rights, agriculture, food security, environmental protection and biodiversity in renewing the Farakka water-sharing treaty. He said the agreement would be renewed with water security and national interests in mind amid changing realities. The minister made the remarks on Tuesday, August 18, at a seminar titled “Ganges Water Treaty: Renewal” in Dhanmondi, Dhaka, organized by the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs.

The minister said the Farakka agreement concluded in 1977 during the time of martyred President Ziaur Rahman was the best agreement because it contained a guarantee clause for receiving water. He said the guarantee clause was removed from the 1996 agreement. Addressing renewal challenges, he said work was under way with Bangladesh’s interests as the priority.

State Minister Azad said Bangladesh and India share 54 transboundary rivers, most of which lack navigability. He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had planned excavation of 20,000 kilometres of rivers, canals and water bodies over five years. He also mentioned an initiative to strengthen the Joint Rivers Commission through suitable individuals. Former adviser Dr Asif Nazrul presented the keynote paper at the seminar.