China’s moves to build dam on the river Brahmaputra has concerned Bangladesh over the diversion of water. Bangladesh is now prepared for joint-river basin management.
The Prime Ministers of the two countries had extensive talks where Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali batted for joint-dredging of rivers.
“On the Brahmaputra basin, we are very concerned about diversion of water and Bangladesh is prepared to join a joint basin management concept where we will discuss the points of water as it flows from the point of origin to the point of exit in the sea,” said H.E. Syed Muazzem Ali
“And naturally, we will be very happy to fully cooperate with all regional joint agencies,” he said.
He added that Bangladesh believed in joint-river basin management both in Ganges and the Brahmaputra.
In China, the river is known as Yarlung Zangbo. It enters India as Brahmaputra, meets Ganges and drains into Bay of Bengal.
When asked about Dhaka’s growing proximity to China, he said, “China has offered us lines of credit. But that is not free and we have to return it to them. We are also using credit on projects where there is comparative advantage.”
Bangladesh has only advantageous lines of credits with China.
“We have economic relations with China, but with China we don’t have the kind of projects we have with India. There are certain areas where the Chinese have an advantage. For example, the longer time to repay (the credit) but not all Chinese credit lines are used.
“We do not want to get into the debt trap. Bangladesh has not faltered on any of its debt with the World Bank, with China, with India or with any country. Individually, I have not forgotten the 1971,” he added.
Dhaka’s relationship with China is primarily in the areas of economic, trade and commerce.
(Inputs by PTI)
