Lucknow Press
Dhaka: Bangladesh has chosen India, not China, for the important project related to the Teesta river. PM Sheikh Hasina has announced that India will complete this project costing one billion dollars. Hasina said during a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday, ‘China is ready but I want India to do it (this project).’ This decision of Bangladesh will put an end to India’s security concerns.
“…I would prefer that India does it (Teesta project). India has the water of Teesta river… so, they should do this project and if they do the project, they will give whatever is needed here,” Hasina said in Dhaka on Sunday evening.
According to media reports, during Hasina’s recent visit to Beijing, China did not seem serious about this project. Hasina cut short her China visit after Beijing withdrew from the $5 billion financial package and did not give her adequate protocol.
What about the ?
Bangladesh wants the water of the Teesta river to be managed better. This 414 kilometer long river originates from India and flows into Bangladesh. On Dhaka’s initiative, the water of Teesta is to be preserved and managed better. The development of the Teesta river basin was prominently discussed during Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in June.
China took a gamble seeing the opportunity
India and Bangladesh share many rivers that originate from the Himalayas and fall into the Bay of Bengal. An agreement on sharing the Teesta waters was reached in 2011 but could not be implemented due to objections from West Bengal. China saw India’s delay as an opportunity and sent its proposal to Bangladesh.
India never likes it when Chinese engineers work so close to the Indian border. That is why this year India also put forward its offer to Bangladesh. Hasina said, ‘China has given us a proposal, they have done a feasibility study. India has also given a proposal and it will do a feasibility study.’ She further said, “But I would give more priority to it being done by India, because India has blocked the water of Teesta.”
