Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswamy has said that the Teesta water sharing agreement is an internal challenge for India. India is working hard to advance the water sharing agreement of common rivers of Bangladesh and India including Teesta.
There should be no doubt in Bangladesh-India relations. Because the deep friendship between these two neighboring countries has been historically tested.
India has always believed in the principle of mutual cooperation and friendship, never grandfathering, he said while participating in the 'Decab Talk' organized by the Association of Diplomatic Reporters (DCAB) at the National Press Club on Monday. AKM Moinuddin, General Secretary of DCAB, delivered the welcome address at the function presided over by Panth Rahman, President of DCAB.
Diplomatic reporters from various media outlets, including DCAB members, took part in the event. Responding to a question from reporters, he said the two countries were also working to find effective ways to bring down border killings to zero.
He also remarked that the trial of Pakistani genocide could take place at any time during the liberation war of 1971. In his welcome address, the Indian High Commissioner said that there are some unresolved issues in the relations between Bangladesh and India.
These have been waiting for a long time for a solution. The two countries are working to resolve these issues. For this reason, there should never be any doubt in Bangladesh-India relations. On the contrary, the people of the two countries will benefit if the field of mutual cooperation is expanded beyond doubt. India has always wanted Bangladesh to progress.
India never wants Bangladesh to fail. Referring to the coronavirus vaccine given to Bangladesh, he said that whenever the vaccine was produced in India, it was immediately provided to the citizens of Bangladesh. As a result, the people of India and Bangladesh have been vaccinated at the same time. This proves that Bangladesh is at the forefront of India's neighborhood policy. He said that one of the fundamental interests of India is a strong, stable and prosperous Bangladesh.
Good relations with Bangladesh are a major priority of India's foreign policy. In response to a question in this regard, he further said that China's relationship with Bangladesh has nothing to do with India. Because it is not his job as High Commissioner to speculate on Bangladesh's relations with other countries.
He came to Bangladesh to further enhance Bangladesh's friendly relations with India. Replying to a question on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dhaka next March, he said the goal of the visit would be to consolidate the friendship between the two close neighbors and take it much further.
In March, the two leaders will discuss historical elements, cooperation between the two countries at the governmental level, such as energy and development projects, as well as issues of mutual interest. This is because any kind of inter-river agreement requires the approval of the state government.
The central government of India is in talks with all those involved. Meanwhile, a meeting of the technical committee of the joint river commission of the two countries has been held.
The meeting has exchanged data on six identical rivers and once this information is coordinated, we will be able to move forward on the agreement.
The meeting of the Joint River Commission will be held in the near future. India is working hard for a common water sharing agreement with the Teesta.
