Today, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced that her government will choose the proposal that will benefit the nation and its citizens the greatest when it comes to carrying out the Teesta master plan project.
“We have taken Teesta projects. China and India have given separate proposals to implement the project. We must accept the proposal which will be more beneficial for the people of our country,” she said.
The prime minister made the comments during a news conference at her official Ganabhaban house here on June 21–22, in response to a barrage of inquiries about the results of her two-day state visit to India.
She stated that there are numerous suggestions regarding the Teesta Project’s implementation.
“But, we must consider how much the project is applicable for my country, how much its return will be helpful for the welfare of the people after its completion alongside the capability to repay the loan,” she said.
China has completed a physical survey while India wants to do another regarding the implementation of the Teesta project, she said.
“We will accept the survey which will be more suitable and beneficial for us,” she added.
Bangladesh would meet with India’s technical team, the prime minister said, adding that India has expressed a wish to send a delegation in this regard.
However, she stated that Bangladesh and India have a long-standing dispute over the sharing of water from the Teesta River.
“So, it will be easy for Bangladesh if India does the Teesta project. In that case, we won’t need to talk about the Teesta water sharing always,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh has a longstanding issue with India over water sharing of the 54 common rivers.
“If there is problem, there is solution as well,” she said.
The prime minister said the Ganges water sharing treaty will end by 2026.
“If the treaty isn’t renewed by the time, it will continue (according to the provision of the treaty),” she said.
In response to another question concerning a report about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s protest against the Indian government’s decision to share water from the Teesta and Ganges rivers with Bangladesh without consulting her, Sheikh Hasina stated that she didn’t want to comment on the matter because it is purely an internal one.
However, she stated that she gets along well with all Indian political groups, including Mamata Banerjee and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
When asked about striking a balance in India-China ties, the prime minister stated that there is none because her administration is in its fifth term and has followed the foreign policy of “friendship to all, malice to none” for four consecutive terms.
India is very important for Bangladesh as they along with the Freedom Fighters shed blood for the independence of Bangladesh during Liberation War in 1971, she said.
She also said meanwhile, there are many things to learn from China about how the country to be developed.
“We maintain the relations considering all these aspects,” she added.
The premier said she never interfered on what relations the two countries have.
“I work for the welfare and development of the country and people maintaining friendly relations with all,” she added.
She also said she didn’t see any problem with maintaining relations with India and China.
The prime minister said she traveled to New Delhi because she had received invitations to travel to India for a state visit as well as to see Narendra Modi’s inauguration. She stated that she will now travel to China since she was invited there as well.
The premier shared the dais with AL General Secretary and Minister of Road Transport and Bridges Obaidul Quader, Presidium Members, Deputy Leader of the House Begum Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim and Kazi Zafarullah, Joint General Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Hasan Mahmud, and PM’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman.
The press conference was moderated by Md. Nayeemul Islam Khan, the PM’s press secretary.
