New Delhi and Dhaka are working on finalizing agreements for the water-sharing of common rivers, Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla has said, and added they are also holding discussions on exchanging best practices in the areas of river embankments and addressing salinity of rivers. 

“India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers which are part of our shared resources and responsibilities...The historic accord on Ganga water sharing has stood the test of time,” Shringla said in his speech at the 10th India-Bangladesh Friendship Dialogue held in Shimla, the Indian hill resort, on Monday. 

The event was also attended by Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shariar Alam, who led the Bangladeshi delegation. Senior Bangladesh leaders, retired diplomats, serving and retired lawmakers, and leading intellectuals were part of his delegation. 

Hailing Bangladesh’s socio-economic success as a role model, Shringla said “The growth of Bangladesh is not just in the interest of the people of Bangladesh, but equally, in the interest of the region and beyond”. In his speech, Shringla termed effective management a “key to facilitating economic linkages and people-to-people contact” in both countries. For this, he said, the two nations need to work closely to strengthen border infrastructure to ensure smooth transit of goods and people while ensuring that illegal activities are kept under check.

Illegal crossing, cattle smuggling, and border killings are causes of concern for both nations. Despite the two nations enjoying the best of their bilateral ties, significant differences remain over the approaches to resolve their thorny issues.  

On bilateral trade, Shringla said it saw a quantum jump in recent years, with Bangladesh’s export to India expected to cross $2 billion this year. 

On connectivity, he said India and Bangladesh have made remarkable progress in enhancing connectivity through the use of their inland waterways besides expanding cross-border rail and road services.

“India remains committed to building the momentum of regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC Framework. It can be an important vehicle for enhancing economic cooperation, development, and connectivity in the region. We are looking forward to the next BIMSTEC Summit,” Shringla said.

(SAM)