Dhaka to discuss water sharing issue of 54 rivers with Delhi:PM

[eastwatch]

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Dhaka to discuss water sharing issue of 54 rivers with Delhi: PM
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

The prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, has said her government will discuss the long-standing water sharing issue of the country痴 54 rivers including Teesta with India soon.

The matters will be discussed between the two governments although it has already been discussed in the technical committee and waiting for discussion in the Joint River Commission, she said.
he prime minister said this while addressing the 18th National Convention-2009 and 34th council meet of Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh at the IDEB Bhaban in the city痴 Kakrail on Sunday.

She said her previous government signed the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty with India and then conducted massive dredging programmes in the country痴 major rivers including the River Gorai to maintain their normal flows as well as navigability for protecting the vast land of the country from salinity.

But, she regretted that the previous BNP government after coming to power in 2001 suspended the dredging project that led further siltation in those rivers and contribute inflow of saline water in the southern belt of the country.

Describing the River Buriganga as the lifeline of Dhaka city, she said her government had already taken massive programme to clean up the Buriganga bed aiming at facilitating its dredging activities.

Apart from this, she said the navigability of the rivers Turag, Balu and Sitalakhya would be restored by conducting dredging under its massive dredging and maintenance programmes. 鮮ot only river management, we are also trying to establish control over rivers by restoring their navigability,・she added.

Hasina said the most of the rivers were dying and lost their navigability as the last government did not take any measurers to protect those rivers. Even, the rivers and canals were grabbed by influential persons during the period, she added.

In this context, she said her government had already directed the authorities concerned to give permission to the developers for developing their projects keeping the provision of open water bodies and trees. 糎e want to synchronise between green and blue to protect environment,・she added.

The prime minister said nobody would get permission for developing their projects if they do not keep water bodies and trees inside their project.

Besides, she said the government had also directed the authorities concerned to set up solar panels along with keeping provision to preserve rain water in each of the building to reduce pressure on ground water.

Regarding climate change issue, the prime minister said her government had already earmarked Tk 700 crore in the national budget and undertaken an action plan to face the climate change challenges.

She referred the huge pressure on the capital city and said her government had a plan to expand the capital and making it a neat and clean healthy city habitable for all. 繕nder this plan we have chalked up a plan to set up four satellite towns around the city to this end,・she added.

Hasina in her speech gave a salient feature of the country痴 long struggle towards achieving independence and its journey to democracy.

In this context, she said although 38 years had passed of the country痴 independence desired development was not achieved so far due to lack of uninterrupted democracy after the brutal assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

糎ithout democracy no country can achieve sustainable development,・she said adding her present government was working relentlessly for socio-economic uplift of the people who gave huge mandate to her government in the last general election.

The prime minister categorically said her government was making all-out efforts to build a happy and prosperous 全onar Bangla・free from corruption to fulfil the long-cherished desire of the people.

She said her government was implementing various epoch-making programmes in health, education, self-empowerment and economic sectors to fulfil the basis rights of people.

Reminding the responsibilities of the diploma engineers for the socio-economic development of the country, the prime minister called upon them to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and dedication for the welfare of the people.

The prime minister called upon the diploma engineers to implement the development programmes within shortest possible time for the betterment of the nation.

Among others, president of IDEB MR Khairul Umam and general secretary Kazi Nazrul Islam addressed the function. Ministers, advisers to the prime minister, delegates from home and abroad, among others, attended the inaugural function.

[idune]

I would request Mod to merge this to following thread. There is no logical needs to have multiple threads in same subject. Thanks


Bangladesh Prime Minister's Foreign Visits

[iajdani]

New thread creates new sensation... Life is not all about black and white brother.. put some color on it... ;-)

[eastwatch]

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Y members like to create new thread rather than thread update? More threads can puzzle in case any new member join form BD or else.

Look, one visit to Delhi by the BD PM will not solve all the water issues. When she returns, even then this issue will remain alive. So, I have separated it from the India visit by the PM. In fact, it was just a news update. Sure, people have the freedom to discuss on it.

But, our Idune wants to unite this thread with another one, because he assumes that there will be little agreement during the visit. To him it will be a great failure by the AL STOOGE govt.