DHAKA, 11 July 2022, (TON): Indian PM Narendra Modi has expressed his country’s optimism to deliver inclusive growth for the citizens working together with Bangladesh in spite of an ‘increasingly complex and challenging’ international environment.

He said “our shared commitment to intensify the excellent cooperation and partnership between India and Bangladesh is one of the most important means through which we can continue to deliver inclusive growth.”

Modi extended his personal good wishes to Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

The Indian PM said that he looked forward to discussing different issues when they would meet in New Delhi in a few weeks’ time.

DHAKA, 11 July 2022, (TON): Border Guard Bangladesh personnel exchanged greetings with India's Border Security Force personnel with sweets at Hatkhola border in Panchbibi of Joypurhat on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha.

Subedar Naimur Islam, commander of BGB's Hatkhola camp, presented sweets to BSF personnel from Gayeshpur and Chakgopal camps at the border to exchange Eid greetings, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.

Naimur Islam said "we greet each other with flowers and sweets during the different national and religious festivities to uphold our friendship, mutual harmony, and fraternity between the two neighbouring countries' border security forces.”

By Farzana Tamannur (TON Bangladesh)

Sharing river water between neighbors is a complex task as it generates upstream-downstream supply disputes. Having the highest number of common rivers with its main neighbor – India, Bangladesh has to face common water sharing clashes with that country. To resolve disputes over water sharing, Bangladesh started dialogs with India after its liberation, but the country has been facing challenges in reaching an agreement on a formula and mechanism to share the common water.

In 2021, with India and Bangladesh all set to memorialize their 50 years of diplomatic bonds right from the time of Liberation War; the Ganga Water Treaty (GWT) contracted at the Silver Jubilee of their bilateral association (1996) till date remains the only water sharing treaty that both countries have decided to. Though, numerous temporary contracts in the form of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) are in place, the lack of treaties in this domain highlight the unexploited potential that might be reached collectively which would in turn deliver impetus for improved engagement and collaboration in other aspects of bilateral relationships as well as.

With the work on Barrage ongoing, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after founding the government in Bangladesh raised the matter on a crucial basis with his Indian counterpart, Indira Gandhi. The resulting significance attached, by both sides, to the concerned issue could be understood by scrutinizing the ‘Treaty of Friendship, Collaboration and Peace’ contracted in 1972 immediately afterward Bangladesh’s freedom. The Treaty laid the formal facility for constituting Indo-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC). The JRC was tasked with the aim of devising an outline for expanding the water supply through sustainable and effective use of the resources available at both sides of the Barrage.

It was only in 1977 that a 5 year contract was reached by both sides. The highlight of this planning was the ‘Warranty Clause’ which was a vast relief for Bangladesh as it confirmed them at least 80% of its share of river Ganga through the thinnest period (from April 21 to May 31). Remarkably, the MoU which succeeded this agreement in 1982 did not have any reference of this section. Rather to India’s benefit, another clause usually referred to as the ‘burden sharing’ clause was added. This meant that both sides would equally face the brunt of exceptionally low flow of the river Ganga. Also, the 1985 MoU which was contracted for three years, followed the suit of the previous MoU in terms of cancelling the Guarantee Clause. It was through these historical conditions that the common Bangladeshi psyche initiated perceiving India as a hydro hegemon of the area which is still a very strong idea in Bangladesh. In fact, even the GWT which is based upon the ideologies of ‘equity, fairness as well as no harm to either party’ has faced criticism ever since it came into force.

The Teesta River, a branch of the Brahmaputra, initiates in the Teesta Kangse glacier and flows over the state of Sikkim and West Bengal beforehand entering Bangladesh. It has been delayed in conflict since 1947 when the catchment regions of the Teesta were assigned to India. After the setting up of the India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission in 1972, an ad hoc preparation on sharing of Teesta waters was prepared in 1983, with India getting 39 percent of the water plus Bangladesh 36 percent of it. The Teesta river issue assumed importance after the end of the Ganga Water Treaty in 1996. Negotiations among India and Bangladesh on the sharing of the river waters initiated soon after but have made limited development.

However, India has constantly shied away from addressing the Teesta water subject and this has annoyed Bangladesh. Despite the friendly relationship between the two countries, India and Bangladesh have not conversed the river water issues (counting the Teesta issue) over their common platform, the Joint River Commission (JRC) in the previous 10 years. Similarly, Daily Star had mourned that despite sharing 54 rivers India and Bangladesh had not contracted a single bilateral treaty on water sharing in the previous quarter of a century.

Due to India’s stubbornness, Bangladesh had tried to cultivate China and was “considering a proposal from China to dredge plus embank big portions of the Teesta River so that it formed a single controllable channel.” India had opposed the project as it did not want Chinese technicians close to the “Chicken Neck” corridor nearby Siliguri that links mainland India to its northeast. Though, leading Bangladeshi scholars have asked India’s position on the issue and implored Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to go onward with the project with the Chinese.

India also has much to gain from the decision of the treaty. If India signs the treaty, it will be capable to send an affirmative signal to all stakeholders inside Bangladeshi society and lessen fears that exist in the minds of ordinary Bangladeshi about India’s purposes. India will be able to cement its situation as an all-weather friend of Bangladesh in the neighborhood plus in due course of time, it will be capable to further develop a healthy economic and strategic corporation without worrying about the party in power in Bangladesh. Afterward the Land Boundary Contract that was signed in 2014, it is this Teesta water sharing contract that will be remembered as part of the Shonali adhyaya of India-Bangladesh relations. Nonetheless India must act now.

The Way Ahead

Bangladesh and India should jointly invite China to the negotiating table plus seek long-term contracts concerning data sharing and permissible levels of water flow diversion. Bangladesh and India must not delay aiming toward these objectives because China presently views diverting the Brahmaputra as cost inefficient; this might easily change in the future. Therefore, India and Bangladesh have an interest to reach a contract with China that might control its behavior before a prospective water crisis or future energy demand convinces Beijing that diverting the Brahmaputra further is in its best interests.

BALI, 09 July 2022, (TON): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “rare talks with his Chinese counterpart in Indonesia were constructive but he voiced alarm over issues including Taiwan.”

Blinken said “despite the complexities of our relationship, I can say with some confidence that our delegations found today’s discussions useful, candid and constructive.”

But Blinken said he also voiced concerns over issues including Taiwan, Hong Kong, human rights and Ukraine.

Blinken said “I conveyed deep concerns of the United States regarding Beijing’s increasingly provocate rhetoric and activity toward Taiwan and the vital importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”

He also called for China to distance itself from Russia, a day after Group of 20 talks in Bali where Western nations directly criticized Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov over the Ukraine invasion.

BERLIN, 09 July 2022, (TON): Germany said “it hopes to convince Canada to deliver a turbine needed to maintain the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, with Russia waiting on the machine s arrival before increasing supplies.”

Germany is seeking to bolster waning energy supplies, but Ukraine has accused Berlin of giving in to Russian blackmail after Moscow blamed reduced supplies on the need for repairs, not market conditions amid the Ukraine war.

The turbine is currently undergoing maintenance at a Canadian site owned by German industrial giant Siemens.

Russian energy behemoth Gazprom last month blamed the issue for a reduction in supplies to Germany via the controversial pipeline, with Berlin facing a serious energy crisis.

RIYADH, 09 July 2022, (TON): Saudi Press Agency reported “Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent congratulatory cables to leaders of Muslim countries to extend greetings on the advent of Eid Al-Adha.”

The king and crown prince sent the cables in the interest of communicating with their fellow leaders of Islamic countries every year on the blessed occasion.

They also wished for more happy returns, while calling for further progress and prosperity, and lasting security and stability for the Islamic nation.

King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman also received cables from Muslim leaders to offer greetings on Eid Al-Adha, and the two leaders sent reply telegrams thanking them for their well-wishes.

LONDON, 09 July 2022, (TON): Britain’s minister for Asia and the Middle East has completed a second trip to the Gulf as she looks to shore up economic ties between the UK and the region.

Amanda Milling’s visit to Bahrain, the UAE and Qatar followed last month’s news that Gulf Cooperation Council countries would enter the UK’s Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme exempting nationals from visa requirements, and the launch of discussions on a free trade agreement.

She said in a statement “Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE are close friends of the UK.”

“We are making it easier for UK companies to trade with companies in the Gulf through a Free Trade Agreement and for citizens of the Gulf to travel to the UK.”

During her visit to the three countries, she discussed human rights, global health, security issues, and fostering ever-stronger trade ties between the UK and the region, noting the value of existing bilateral partnerships.

BALI, 09 July 2022, (TON): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met for the first in-person talks since October after attending a G20 summit where the top US diplomat led efforts to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine.

US officials say Blinken’s meeting with Wang in Bali, Indonesia, including a morning session of talks and a working lunch, is aimed at keeping the difficult US relationship with China stable and preventing it from veering inadvertently into conflict.

Blinken told reporters “there is no substitute for face to face  diplomacy, and in a relationship as complex and consequential as the one between the United States and China there is a lot to talk about.”

He said “we very much look forward to a productive and constructive conversation.”

DUBAI, 09 July 2022, (TON): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke to the leadership of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, and called for enhancing political and economic ties with both states.

According to the Prime Minister Office “the prime minister telephoned Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the UAE, and conveyed warm greetings to him on the occasion of Eidul Azha.”

The PM also extended best wishes for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of the UAE.

Reaffirming the fraternal ties between Pakistan and the UAE, the two leaders reiterated their mutual commitment to further expand and diversify special bilateral relations.

The president of the UAE reciprocated the PM’s greetings and extended best wishes to the people of Pakistan on Eid.

DHAKA, 09 July 2022, (TON): The authorities have beefed up security measures in the densely populated Dhaka to ensure smooth celebrations of the holy Eid-ul-Azha.

RAB Additional Director General Colonel Md Quamrul Hasan said “additional security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward situations in the capital on Eid day.”

He said “though we do not have any specific intelligence input of any possible terror attacks on the occasion of Eid, we are not taking any chances.”

The senior RAB officer said "our men also inspected the overall security measures at National Eidgah Maidan on Saturday. We are also relying on out intelligence network."