No official comment has been made by India or Bangladesh about dates of the visit. Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman might visit India in late November or early December as both countries engage in discussions through existing bilateral mechanisms for the renewal of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty which expires on December 12, NDTV has learnt.
However, the possibility of Rahman’s visit to India hinges on the conclusion of the discussions as Bangladesh is keen to project the successful renegotiation of the Ganga Water Sharing Treaty as a victory of the Tarique Rahman government. Earlier this month, Bangladesh’s Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee expressed hope that a new treaty with India will be signed before December 12.
Rahman will visit Japan at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Sanae Takaichi to strengthen bilateral ties and expand economic cooperation between the two nations, state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sanstha (BSS) reported. Bangladesh and Japan expect to sign more than four memorandums of understanding (MoUs) during Rahman’s visit and issue a joint statement outlining the outcomes and future direction of bilateral cooperation. The Ganga Water Sharing Treaty is a 30-year bilateral agreement between India and Bangladesh signed on December 12, 1996, by Prime Ministers HD Deve Gowda and Sheikh Hasina. It governs the sharing of the Ganges River waters at the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal during the lean season from January 1 to May 31 every year.
“Restoring the guarantee clause, as in the 1977 agreement, is one of Bangladesh’s top priorities in the new treaty,” Anee said after a seminar titled “Rethinking the Future of Water: Youth Leadership, Justice and Cooperation,” United News of Bangladesh (UNB) reported. India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has said that India’s invitation to Rahman for a visit remains valid and there is no need to rush the trip.
