[Dhaka, The Bangladesh Observer in English, 25 Apr 91, pp 1, 8]

Bangladesh and India Wednesday concluded their Secretary- level talks on sharing the waters of common rivers with a decision to attach priority to sharing the flows of rivers Ganges and the Teesta, reports BSS.

The two-day meeting agreed that a joint technical team would visit the areas in India and Bangladesh which are dependent on the flows, take note of the relevant ground situation on both the sides and report to their respective governments.

A joint Press release issued at the end of the meeting, said that the Secretary-level committee agreed to intensify efforts to accomplish its assignment.

The two sides agreed on the visits by the joint technical team to achieve the purpose of sharing the waters including those of the Ganges and Teesta.

Bangladesh delegation to the talks was led by Secretary Ministry of Irrigation, Water Resources and Flood Control Mr. M.A. Malik and included among others High Commissioner to India Faruq A. Chowdhury and Additional Foreign secretary Mahmood Ali.

The Indian team was headed by Secretary on the Water Resources Ministry Dr. M.A. Chitale and included among others High Commissioner in Bangladesh K. Srinivasan and Commissioner in the Water Resources Ministry Ramesh Chandra.

The talks lasted Wednesday for four hours before the Indian delegation left for home.

The leader of the Bangladesh team said the outcome of the talks was a "progress."

About the sharing of waters of Teesta, the two sides agreed that Bangladesh side would prepare a draft operational plan for consideration of the next meeting, which will be held in New Delhi in July this year.

The two sides also agreed that a joint team would observe and monitor the dry season flows at Farakka and Hardinge Bridge.

The last meeting between the two countries at the level of secretaries took place in October last.