Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said Saturday Bangladesh is carefully observing the events leading to the upcoming Indian general election in the context of the long-awaited 'Teesta water accord' with the neighbouring country.
He made the observation on the sidelines of a programme in the capital where he was asked about the progress of the long-disputed water sharing through Teesta Accord between Bangladesh and India.
"We are eagerly waiting for the Indian general election, which will be held in between April 7 and May 12 this year to constitute the country's 16th Lok Sabha," the minister said.
Mr Ali was speaking to the journalists in the inaugural ceremony of the 'Active Citizens Achievers' Summit 2014'. British Council, Bangladesh organised the programme on the Bangla Academy premises.
British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Robert Gibson addressed the session as the chief guest while British Council Acting Country Director Brendan McSharry delivered the address of welcome.
Replying to a question on the 'Teesta Accord' the minister said Indian experts will visit Bangladesh soon to investigate the sudden decline in the flow of water in the rivers of the country's north-eastern part which is seriously hampering the irrigation process there.
"The ministry concerned approached the Indian authorities, and they agreed to send a high-powered technical experts' team here to investigate the shortage of water in detail," he said.
However, Mr Ali didn't mention any timetable of the forthcoming visit of the Indian delegation.
Recently, farmers of Chirirbandar upazila kept the Dinajpur-Rangpur highway in Bekipul area blocked for many hours, demanding irrigation water from Teesta Barrage Project as the water supply suddenly stopped during the peak Irri-Boro season.
When he was asked about the ongoing debate on the country's 'first president' the foreign minister said the dispute is deliberate and well-planned by the opposition to distort the country's genuine history. The BNP-Jamaat-led alliance had withdrawn the country's real history from the academic syllabus.
"Even Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman in his lifetime didn't claim himself to be the country's first president, but unfortunately now his son and the party leaders are doing it which is just intentional and to misguide the people," he said.
The debate came to the spotlight as BNP's Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, also son of the late president Ziaur Rahman, at a programme held recently in the United Kingdom claimed his father as the first president of Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, the British High Commissioner said Bangladesh is making progress in many measuring indices. However the country needs to do more on ensuring equal opportunity particularly for the minority community.
Asked whether the UK is satisfied over the progress Bangladesh has made in the country's readymade garment (RMG) sector or not, Mr Gibson said the issue is not a matter to be resolved overnight.
"We are closely working here with all stakeholders including Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the government for the betterment of the country's RMG industry," he added.
