Bangladesh
Common Rivers Work begins on demarcating four common rivers of Bangladesh and India
Dhaka, December 13: The governments of the India and Bangladesh have started work on demarcation of four rivers in Satkhira district among 54 common rivers between the two countries. The move comes follwoing a virtual summit between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in December 2020. Those rivers are Ichhamati, Kalindi, Rayamangal and Hariabhanga.
These rivers flowing in Bangladesh have dried up as India has built innumerable dams upstream.
In this regard, an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Some common rivers have entered Bangladesh directly from India. There are some rivers whose middle point is the border between the two countries."
The official said that the four rivers would be discussed with India. "The boundaries of these rivers were demarcated in May 1954 during negotiations between the then Pakistan and India. Since the boundaries of those rivers have already been determined, we will ask the Indians to address the issue in the light of the earlier decision."
SA Majid, the then East Pakistan Land Survey Officer, and D Gupta, India's Land Records Officer, signed the demarcation map.
Meanwhile, Rahimpur canal was dug in Sylhet to facilitate irrigation work as part of food security in Bangladesh; Through which the water of Kushiyara river can be used for irrigation. As a part of this canal is very close to the border, India is obstructing its excavation. As a result, about 5,000 hectares of land in Bangladesh is being deprived of irrigation. The issue was discussed at a meeting between the two prime ministers in March this year and both sides agreed to a speedy solution.
Another ministry official said a draft memorandum of understanding was in the final stages to address the issue. He said he had been reminded of the matter during the recent visit of Indian Foreign Secretary Harshvardhan Schringler to Dhaka.
