HC orders today on Ganges water sharing writ
Thursday, 19 June 2008
The High Court (HC) passes its orders today (Thursday) upon a public-interest litigation (PIL) writ petition seeking court direction for ensuring due share of the Ganges water and an overdue review of the India-Bangladesh Ganges Water Treaty, reports UNB.
After closing the hearings, a division bench, headed by Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana, set today for the orders.
During the hearing process, Advocate Tajul Islam submitted that clause 10 of the treaty, signed on December 1996, has a provision for review in the light of ground reality every five years -even in two years, if necessary.
But, he argued, no effort has been made for review of the treaty in the last 12 years, which deprived Bangladesh of its due share of the Ganges water.
"Not only that, Bangladesh is also becoming waterless following unilateral withdrawal of the Ganges waters at Farakka point," he further submitted before the court to justify their plea for a review of the water treaty.
He blamed government for not taking any practical step to address the issue.
Tajul demanded a court direction compelling the government to construct barrage inside Bangladesh as an alternative measure.
Deputy Attorney General Idris Khan opposed the submissions by the petitioner's counsel, saying that since it is an international treaty, the court has "nothing to do" with it.
On June 11, the writ was filed by two lawyers of the Supreme Court - Muraduzzaman and Faruk Hossain.
After closing the hearings, a division bench, headed by Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana, set today for the orders.
During the hearing process, Advocate Tajul Islam submitted that clause 10 of the treaty, signed on December 1996, has a provision for review in the light of ground reality every five years -even in two years, if necessary.
But, he argued, no effort has been made for review of the treaty in the last 12 years, which deprived Bangladesh of its due share of the Ganges water.
"Not only that, Bangladesh is also becoming waterless following unilateral withdrawal of the Ganges waters at Farakka point," he further submitted before the court to justify their plea for a review of the water treaty.
He blamed government for not taking any practical step to address the issue.
Tajul demanded a court direction compelling the government to construct barrage inside Bangladesh as an alternative measure.
Deputy Attorney General Idris Khan opposed the submissions by the petitioner's counsel, saying that since it is an international treaty, the court has "nothing to do" with it.
On June 11, the writ was filed by two lawyers of the Supreme Court - Muraduzzaman and Faruk Hossain.