Dhaka for jt management of Brahmaputra
Approaches Delhi and Beijing, experts hail the move
Approaches Delhi and Beijing, experts hail the move
Bangladesh has made a proposal to China and India to develop a joint basin-wise management of the Brahmaputra, a mighty Asian river flowing through the three countries, foreign minister Dipu Moni said Monday.
Experts appreciated the government's move on the Brahmaputra river, which, they said, would be mutually beneficial for the countries sharing the common basin.
'We have made a proposal to China to develop a joint basin-wise management for Brahmaputra river. They have described it as a good proposal. We have also made the proposal to India,' Dipu Moni said at a press conference at the ministry Monday. 'Both the countries are weighing the idea.'
Experts appreciated the government's move on the Brahmaputra river, which, they said, would be mutually beneficial for the countries sharing the common basin.
'We have made a proposal to China to develop a joint basin-wise management for Brahmaputra river. They have described it as a good proposal. We have also made the proposal to India,' Dipu Moni said at a press conference at the ministry Monday. 'Both the countries are weighing the idea.'
In the meanwhile, the two countries will exchange data and information about the flow of the river and at one stage the question of joint management of the river water would come up, she said.
'The two sides [Bangladesh and China] discussed the need for regular exchange of information and consultation on the use of the water resources of river Yarluzangbu/Brahmaputra to ensure sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation in this regard,' said the joint communiqué issued in Beijing on March 19 on the concluding day of prime minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to the country.
'The two sides [Bangladesh and China] discussed the need for regular exchange of information and consultation on the use of the water resources of river Yarluzangbu/Brahmaputra to ensure sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation in this regard,' said the joint communiqué issued in Beijing on March 19 on the concluding day of prime minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to the country.
Bangladesh prefers a basin-wise management of the rivers with co-riparian countries, the minister said.
The 2,900km long Brahmaputra river originates in southwestern Tibet in China and flows through the Arunachal Pradesh and Assam Valley in India before entering Bangladesh to meet the Padma.
The river, which is an important source for irrigation and transport, accounts for at least 60 per cent of the total runoff of all of Bangladesh's rivers, representing a potential source of available water.
India has, however, undertaken projects to build link canals to connect the Brahmaputra with the Ganges just above Farakka barrage to divert water to the western and southern region of Bangladesh.
The 2,900km long Brahmaputra river originates in southwestern Tibet in China and flows through the Arunachal Pradesh and Assam Valley in India before entering Bangladesh to meet the Padma.
The river, which is an important source for irrigation and transport, accounts for at least 60 per cent of the total runoff of all of Bangladesh's rivers, representing a potential source of available water.
India has, however, undertaken projects to build link canals to connect the Brahmaputra with the Ganges just above Farakka barrage to divert water to the western and southern region of Bangladesh.
China was also reportedly planning to build multipurpose structures at the Great Bend on the Yarluzangbu [Brahmaputra in Bangladesh], with a view to diverting the waters to the north of the country. The Chinese government has, however, denied the report.
Diversions of large amounts of water, above a certain threshold level, from the Brahmaputra river upstream in China and India could disrupt the lean season flows, trigger environmental catastrophe and salinity ingress and make an adverse impact on the livelihoods of the people downstream in Bangladesh, according to regional experts.
Diversions of large amounts of water, above a certain threshold level, from the Brahmaputra river upstream in China and India could disrupt the lean season flows, trigger environmental catastrophe and salinity ingress and make an adverse impact on the livelihoods of the people downstream in Bangladesh, according to regional experts.
Dipu Moni claimed that the March 17-19 ministerial level meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission between Bangladesh and India was a progress towards signing of an interim agreement on the Teesta river. 'The JRC needs to exchange more information and data,' she said.
Professor Ainun Nishat, an adviser to World Conservation Union-IUCN, said the proposal for basin-wise management of the Brahmaputra was a 'positive move'.
'Basin-wise management should be followed for all 54 rivers shared by Bangladesh and India,' he said.
Professor Ainun Nishat, an adviser to World Conservation Union-IUCN, said the proposal for basin-wise management of the Brahmaputra was a 'positive move'.
'Basin-wise management should be followed for all 54 rivers shared by Bangladesh and India,' he said.
There should be Joint Rivers Commission involving all co-riparian counties, including Bhutan and Nepal in respective cases, Nishat, also a former member of the Indo-Bangla Joint Rivers Commission, said.
Bangladesh Economic Association president Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad also welcomed the government's move for joint management of the Brahmaputra river. 'It will be very good if the move becomes successful.'
It will also be beneficial for the co-riparian countries, including China and India,' Kholiquzzaman, also executive director of Bangladesh Unnyan Parishad, said.
Bangladesh Economic Association president Quazi Kholiquzzaman Ahmad also welcomed the government's move for joint management of the Brahmaputra river. 'It will be very good if the move becomes successful.'
It will also be beneficial for the co-riparian countries, including China and India,' Kholiquzzaman, also executive director of Bangladesh Unnyan Parishad, said.
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