Teesta and a new hope

Mostafijur Rahman Nasim: Teesta is a buzz word right now in the country. Lots of opinion, expectation, hope and aspiration are murmuring everywhere centering Teesta water sharing issue.

The issue has raised new question as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Teesta is the lifeline of North Bengal which can’t be taken away.

“There is very little water in Teesta River, it is our lifeline, the lifeline of North Bengal,” Banerjee said.

Now the question is- where the water in the Teesta gone? In 2011, Bangladesh received 3-5 thousand cusec water from the Teesta. But, how can a river with huge source of water turned into a little?

Teesta water is crucial for Bangladesh, especially in the leanest period from December to March when the water flow often temporarily comes down to less than 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs.

Mamata Banerjee need to understand that monopolising the waters to meet her state’s selfish needs is not fair.

However, we are hopeful that Bangladesh now looks forward to resolving the crucial Teesta water-sharing issue soon. Indian Prime Minister Modi had also expressed confidence of finding a "fair solution" to the long-pending Teesta and Feni river water sharing issue.

There was a deal in 1983 between Bangladesh and India over water sharing. The countries had agreed into an ad hoc sharing of the water during the dry season (Oct. to April) with an allocation of 36 percent for Bangladesh and 39 percent for India, leaving 25 per cent to be decided later.

But the deal remained pending for more than two decades. After many unsuccessful attempts to reach a consensus on the issue, a new bilateral interim deal was to be signed in 2011 to reach an equitable sharing of the water. And it was put on hold as the chief minister of West Bengal stood against the deal.

The much talked Teesta deal was set to be inked during the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh in September 2011 but was postponed at the last minute due to objections by West Bengal Chief Minister. But, now the people of Bangladesh are eagerly waiting to see a fruitful result over the issue.

Bangabandhu's daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to return home after four-day long official India visit on Monday afternoon. During the visit the premier signed several deals.

However, the Teesta deal was not signed yet. She is banking on the assurance of her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, on the prospect of sharing water in the Teesta River. Sheikh Hasina reminded India of Modi’s assurance on Teesta at a reception of India Foundation.

Specialists said that Bangladesh has right to get water from Teesta. There is water in Teesta so the country deserves its fair part. May be West Bengal Chief Minister thought she might lose her popularity in West Bengal if she agrees to share Teesta water. Actually, India kept the deal pending due to their internal politics showing excuses.

Indian media reports, Banerjee said, “Your problem is water, not Teesta. I am willing to look at any alternate proposal to address your issues. What we can do is that there are many other rivers in the area (India-Bangladesh), we can use water from them”.

In that sense, there is no alternative of Teesta River as Bangladesh part-owner of all common rivers. So, Mamata's speech is not appropriate here.

All the preparation is done. Now it's time to see the result of the much talked deal. Legally, the Modi government can strike the Teesta deal ignoring Mamata's opposition.

It is a good sign that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured of an early breakthrough on the Teesta River's water sharing issue. Resolving the Teesta issue for good would be a win-win for our two countries.

So, the people of Bangladesh can expect a better result over the issue as the relationship between Bangladesh and India is at its best now.

risingbd/Dhaka/Apr 10, 2017/Nasim/Mukul