Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Sunday her government will talk with India over sharing the waters of 54 common rivers, including the all-important Teesta. Hasina said the technical committee had already met on the issue, and the Joint River Commission will sit soon. The prime minister will fly to New Delhi on Jan 10 for a much-anticipated summit with Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh. The PM made the remarks at the inaugural ceremony of the 18th National Council and the 34th Council Meet of the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh (IDEB). Foreign Minister Dipu Moni told reporters last week that Hasina would discuss the critical issue of water-sharing of the Teesta alongside other bilateral issues during her upcoming visit to India. “We are in negotiations on Teesta water sharing. The Indian water resources secretary is coming to Bangladesh on Jan 3 to expedite the negotiations,” Moni had told a press briefing at the foreign ministry.
