Bangladesh's Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus, expressed that the interim government plans to actively engage with India to address the long-standing issues surrounding the Teesta water-sharing agreement. In an interview with PTI at his official residence in Dhaka, Yunus emphasized that delaying the resolution of this water-sharing dispute serves neither country and must be resolved in accordance with international standards. He underscored the importance of recognizing the rights of lower riparian nations like Bangladesh.
"Continuing to delay this issue isn’t benefiting anyone. Even if the final agreement isn’t ideal, knowing exactly how much water we will receive is crucial. This issue needs to be resolved," Yunus stated.
When asked whether the interim government intends to expedite discussions on the Teesta water-sharing treaty, Yunus clarified that while they would not aggressively push, they would work towards a resolution. "We will pursue it. But resolving this requires both sides to come together," he explained.
India and Bangladesh had been on the verge of finalizing a Teesta water-sharing agreement during then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka in 2011. However, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had opposed the deal, citing concerns about water scarcity in her state.