Dhaka, Sep 13 (PTI) Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi on Sunday discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation and friendly relations with Bangladesh Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, with the two sides highlighting their shared history, heritage and cultural ties, officials said.
The meeting was also attended by State Minister for Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, the ministry said in a statement.
Trivedi paid a courtesy call on Anee and exchanged views on various bilateral issues, it said.
They stressed the need to enhance cooperation and friendly relations and expressed their commitment to taking the existing relationship between the two countries to new heights, according to the statement.
“During the meeting, the two sides discussed the shared history, heritage and rich cultural ties between Bangladesh and India, as well as other issues of mutual interest,” it said.
The Indian High Commission, in a separate statement, said the discussion highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral engagement to achieve the shared aspirations of the peoples of the two neighbouring countries.
Neither statement, however, referred to pending water-sharing issues involving the two countries’ common rivers or the renewal of the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which is set to expire in December this year.
Water-sharing issues concerning the Ganges and Teesta rivers have remained important elements of India-Bangladesh ties.
India and Bangladesh had finalised an interim water-sharing arrangement on the Teesta in 2011, but it could not be signed due to opposition from the then West Bengal government. PTI AR SCY SCY
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