8 April 2017, Sat, 9:55

Treaties signed to serve Indian interest; Government failed to secure due share of water from common rivers

Secretary General calls to disclose all the signed treaties with India

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General Dr. Shafiqur Rahman has issued the following statement on 8th April, 2017 expressing deep concern as the during the ongoing trip of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in neighbouring India, 22 treaties and 4 memorandums of understanding (MoU) including a defence MoU have been signed on 8th April but still the long awaited Teesta River sharing water treaty has not been signed so far.

“India is our important neighbouring country. Due to the geographical position, there are several bilateral issues with India which are still not resolved. The countrymen expected that during the ongoing trip of Prime Minister in India, the long awaited and expected treaties including Teesta River sharing water treaty, stopping the murder of civilians at the frontiers, dispute on sharing of water from 54 common rivers and Ganges river water sharing crisis would be resolved and relevant treaties would be signed. But so far, 22 treaties and 4 memorandums of understanding (MoU) including a defence MoU have been signed as per the Indian interest, but still the long awaited Teesta River sharing water treaty has not been signed. Indian Prime Minister just made a hope to sign this treaty in near future. But they had made such hope earlier as well. So far they did not perform as per their assurance. So naturally, question is emanated among the people; will this treaty be signed at all?

The government of Sheikh Hasina has made these deals and accords, depriving Bangladeshi people from their due rights and serving the Indian interest only for staying in power. I want to assert that, the people of Bangladesh would not accept these treaties if they do not get due share of water from the common rivers and particularly from Teesta River. If they can hurriedly make the defence MoU, why they failed to sign the long awaited Teesta River treaty? The countrymen want specific answer from the government in this regard. The government has made extremely unethical move by signing these treaties keeping the countrymen in dark. Therefore, there is no moral and ethical ground of these accords and memorandums of understanding.

I am urging the government to make all the signed treaties and defence memorandums of understanding public immediately. Otherwise, the people of this country will never forgive them.”