It has been reported that Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would like India to take up a large project involving the conservation and development of the Bangladeshi part of the Teesta River. This comes as India and China view the venture that will cost $1 billion in the next five years. Hasina discussed the project with Narendra Modi during her recent meeting in New Delhi.
To this, Modi ensured that a technical team from India would soon meet the counterparts in Dhaka and deliberate on the conservation and management of the Teesta River Basin which is one of those 54 rivers between the two countries.
Teesta Project Discussion by Bangladesh PM
In a news conference held in Dhaka, Hasina posed the question of if for the Teesta project impetus would be given to India or China. She said that both countries have made some proposals and added that Bangladesh will make its move with proper knowledge. Hasina stressed the necessity of Teesta for a long time. The issue was included in the Awami League’s election pledge severally.
Underscoring her choice of India for the implementation of the project, Hasina pointed at India as the upper riparian state and its past history regarding the use of water of the Teesta. India’s neighbour also stressed that the country to properly maintain sufficient water downstream.
Diplomatic Challenges
The Teesta River is one such river which traverses through India and Bangladesh and to date, does not have a final Award for water sharing mainly due to West Bengal’s opposition. In India’s Constitution legal structure, the consent of the state government is a prerequisite for such undertakings.
Looking at Hasina’s statements it is possible to identify the nuances of diplomacy on the subject, especially as regards the discontent of India regarding the possible participation of China in the project. On this premise, there are concerns about the security of information and its strategic ramifications, including the likely proposed project’s location near the Siliguri Corridor.
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