[Dhaka, The Bangladesh Observer in English, 24 Apr 91, pp 1, 8]
Bangladesh and India on Tuesday began a two-day meeting to discuss the complex water sharing issue between the two countries, reports BSS.
The secretary-level meeting devoted itself to discussing the problems of major common rivers with a view to reaching an understanding as far as possible on the vital issues like the sharing of the waters of the Ganges, it was learnt.
Mr. M.A. Malik, Secretary Ministry of Irrigation, Flood Control and Water Resources, has been leading the six-member Bangladesh side to the talks while Indian Water Resources Secretary Dr. M.A. Chatal is the leader of his country's delegation.
The talks were mainly focused on the Ganges, Teesta and the Brahmaputra rivers while other common rivers also came up for discussion, officials said.
The leader of the Bangladesh delegation said talks were held in a friendly atmosphere and the two sides would make the position known after the conclusion of the meeting today (Wednesday).
Discussions are taking place in a friendly atmosphere said the leader of the Indian delegation when approached by newsmen for his comment.
Asked whether the talks were making any progress, Dr. Chitale described the discussions as lively.
When pressed if he was satisfied with the first day's deliberations, a smiling Dr. Chitale observed that you can make out from my faces. [sentence as published]
The talks began at 11 a.m. and continued till 6:30 p.m., beyond schedule with a lunch break.
The Indian team included High Commissioner in Bangladesh, K. Srinavasen and Commissioner in the Water Resources Ministry Mr. Ramesh Chandra.
Earlier, Agriculture and Irrigation, Water Development and Flood Control Minister Majid-ul-Haq said that the misunderstanding on sharing of the Ganges water would come to an end soon, an official handout said.
He was talking with the visiting Indian Secretary for Water Resources Dr. M.A. Chitale who called on him at this office.
Bangladesh High Commissioner in India Mr. Farooq Ahmed Chowdhury and Indian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Mr. K. Srinibasan were present on the occasion.
Mr. Majid-ul-Huq said that a historic agreement on sharing of the Ganges water was signed in 1977. But after 1982, India changed her stand on water resources and no agreement was signed during the last nine years of autocratic rule. He expressed his optimism that a happy beginning might be started from the Indian side on distribution of water of all the rivers common to both the countries as a democratic government has been voted to power in Bangladesh which was absent during the last nine years.
The Minister said that after extreme shortage of water for a number of consecutive years the people of Bangladesh were eagerly looking towards the secretary level meeting for the solution of this problem.
The Agriculture Minister said that the development of Bangladesh and India are closely related as the economy of both the countries are mostly agriculture based. He laid stress on regional cooperation for development of both the countries and said that the fate of about one hundred crore people would depend on successful implementation of the projects for regional cooperation.
The Indian Secretary for Water Resources in rely expressed his sincere intent for a fruitful and durable solution on sharing of water of the common rivers. He hoped that the leaders of both countries would be able to find out a pragmatic solution of the problem.
Commenting on news-item that the water level under the hardinge bridge at Pakshi had come to the minimum of all times the Indian Water Resources Secretary said that the Indian government would always invite observers to see the real situation of Farakka.
India does not want to create an information gap on this issue.
He said that the visit of the observers and the experts of both the countries would help ending misunderstanding among the people in the issue and ultimately strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries, the handout said.