Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Dhaka and New Delhi discussed on joint river management of 54 transboundary rivers, including the Teesta, during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s India visit.

“Discussions were held there (New Delhi) regarding the Teesta and joint river management… If we can establish a joint management of the rivers, it will benefit both countries,” he told reporters while responding to question  from a reporter at the foreign ministry here.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina returned home last night (Saturday) wrapping up her two-day bilateral state visit to India at the invitation of her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

When asked about the arrival of India’s technical team to discuss the Teesta water sharing issue, the foreign minister said, Indian technical team needs to visit Bangladesh as Teesta is a large project.

“The arrival of the technical team is very positive,” he added.

The foreign minister termed the Prime Minister’s Delhi visit as “wonderful, fruitful and cordial”.

“The honorable Prime Minister will hold a detailed press conference about the visit to India. Therefore, I do not wish to say more,” Hasan said.

Replying to a query, the foreign minister said that no discussions were held regarding China concerning the Teesta.

However, he said, the Chinese issue came up at the discussion on the ongoing Rohingya crisis.   

“There was discussion about China’s role in the ongoing ethnic conflict there (Myanmar). The Chinese issue did not come up in any other context,” he said.

Responding to another question, Hasan said he extended an invitation to Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to visit Bangladesh when he exchanged greetings with him at a royal reception while performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Marking the Awami League’s 75th founding anniversary, Dr Hasan, who is also AL’s Joint General Secretary, said the great Liberation War of 1971 took place under the Awami League government with Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as President, and all sector commanders including Ziaur Rahman were employees with a salary of 400 Taka.

Currently, he said, Bangladesh has become a global development role model under the leadership of Bangladesh Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He said Bangladesh has progressed from a low-income to a middle-income country being the second-largest producer of freshwater fish, third in rice and vegetable production, and ranking among the top 10 countries in the world for 14 agricultural products.

Hasan said Bangladesh would have progressed further in Awami League’s 75-year illustrious journey if the BNP had not pandered to anti-liberation, communal forces.

“Even half a century after independence, Awami League still has to face anti-national, anti-liberation, communal forces. If the BNP had not pandered to these forces, the country would have progressed much further,” he said.