Ahead of the Bangladesh-India Joint River Commission (JRC) ministerial-level meeting, officials of both the countries will hold a two-day meeting in New Delhi from Tuesday to discuss water management issues between the two countries, reports BSS.
The 38th JRC ministerial level meeting is scheduled to be held on August 25 about 12 years of recess as the last ministerial-level meeting was held in March 2010.
The meeting is being held ahead of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to India from first week of September, according to sources.
During the meeting, the two sides are expected to finalize a joint study on utilization of Ganges water and an agreement of withdrawal of water from Kushiyara River, sources familiar with the development said.
They added that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on sharing of data on the flow of water in the rivers flowing in India's North-East region would also be finalized during the meeting.
India's Jal Shakti (Water Resources) Minister Gajendra Singh Shakhawat and State Minister for Water Resources of Bangladesh Zahid Faruk will lead the respective delegation to the 38th JRC ministerial-level meeting.
Sources, however, said that Bangladesh side is likely to raise the long-awaited Teesta issue in the meeting apart from finalizing a framework agreement of six common rivers- Monu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.
Besides, issues relating to renewal of Ganges water sharing treaty would also be discussed prominently in the meeting.
Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque
