The government should press India during the Indian premier's two-day official visit beginning September 6 to adopt an integrated project to ensure proper sharing of water from the rivers connecting the two countries, urged speakers yesterday.
Resolution of the water sharing problem should be one of the most prime agendas during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit, they said.
They were addressing a roundtable titled "Common environmental concerns of Bangladesh and India and the ways to resolve" organised by Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) at Mukti Bhaban auditorium in the city.
"An integrated water management and development project on the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna should be taken to solve the water crisis of the country," said lawmaker Hasanul Haque Inu.
Inu said there will be no construction on rivers flowing from India to Bangladesh without agreement and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will present our standpoint strongly.
Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Sujan) Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder said if people of the country become refugees due to climate change, neighbouring India would be affected too.
Any treaty between the two countries should be made in such a way so that both countries benefit, he recommended.
Prof Asif Nazrul said the treaties should be specific. "If India does not respect our friendship during the contracts, we should remain strict," he added.
BAPA General Secretary Dr Abdul Matin earlier appealed to the prime ministers of both countries to remove diversions like barrages and dams upstream for which Bangladesh is suffering from water crisis.
Underscoring the need for joint cooperation to save biodiversity of the Sundarbans and resolving maritime border conflicts, Matin urged the premiers to make good use of the upcoming summit.
Eminent columnist Syed Abul Moksud and Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) General Secretary Mujahidul Islam Selim also addressed the programme.
Source : The Daily Star
