Dhaka to resume water talks with India

Bangladesh will shortly open negotiations with India to secure its rightful share of transboundary waters, but will make no concessions on its national interests, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir has declared.

Addressing a seminar titled "Reimagining the Future of Water: Youth Leadership, Justice and Cooperation" at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in Dhaka on Thursday, he said the government was resolved to pursue the country's legitimate water rights through international law and diplomatic engagement. He added that a committee had already been established to work on renewing water-sharing agreements and deepening bilateral cooperation, while Dhaka had asked New Delhi to name its representatives in order to facilitate the talks.

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Kobir said that a spirit of cooperation between the two countries' leaderships would be indispensable to an amicable and sustainable resolution of the Ganges water-sharing agreement and other outstanding issues. Moreover, he emphasised the need for greater youth involvement in future water diplomacy, arguing that the next generation should be equipped with expertise in science, international law and other pertinent disciplines so as to represent Bangladesh effectively at international forums. Meanwhile, other speakers at the seminar stressed regional cooperation, justice and long-term planning in water management.