Dhaka, Delhi mentally on same page over water sharing: FM

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday hoped that the water-sharing issues between Bangladesh and India would be resolved through discussions as the two countries are "mentally agreed" to work on the basis of mutual understanding, reports UNB.

He said the two countries' diplomacy over common rivers is good as the two countries are mentally on the same page though negotiations are going on to some extent.

The Foreign Minister made the remarks while talking to reporters after inaugurating a workshop on water diplomacy at the Foreign Service Academy in the city.

The crucial Teesta water-sharing agreement, negotiated over nearly 20 years, still remained unsettled.

He mentioned that there are 54 common rivers and the two countries share the same mindset and approach over water sharing.

Dr Momen said time has come to talk about the Bangladesh-India Ganges water-sharing deal afresh which was signed in 1996 after long negotiations. The 30-year deal will expire by 2026.

"The historic Ganges water-sharing agreement was signed due to dynamic leadership of then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," he said.