State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Thursday said sincerity at both the political and official levels of Bangladesh and India is essential to finding an amicable resolution to the long-standing water-sharing issues between the two countries.

“If there is sincerity between both countries - at the senior official level, leadership level, and among the water negotiators working from both sides... we have formed a water committee,” he told reporters while responding to a question after attending a seminar.

Kobir expressed optimism that the water-sharing issues could be resolved positively if the leadership of both countries demonstrates a willingness to cooperate.

“If the leadership possesses the mindset to come forward and cooperate, we will certainly achieve an amicable and positive resolution on this issue,” he said.

The State Minister said meaningful progress would be possible if there is sincerity between the two countries at all relevant levels, including among senior officials, political leaders and water negotiators.

Asked about the broader approach to resolving water-related issues, Kobir said diplomacy and dialogue remain the way forward.

“It is only through discussion, dialogue, and diplomacy that these matters will have to be resolved,” he said.

Kobir also said Bangladesh is taking international law into consideration while dealing with the issues.

“The positions of international law are also being taken into consideration. So, this is where we stand right now,” the State Minister said.

Bangladesh and India share 54 transboundary rivers, including the Ganges, Teesta, Brahmaputra, Surma-Kushiyara and Feni, making water management and equitable sharing key components of bilateral relations.

The Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) serves as the principal bilateral mechanism for discussing shared-river issues.

Kobir said discussions and dialogue on the issues are continuing, with both sides looking into the matters through their respective mechanisms.

“Discussions and dialogues are ongoing and will continue here. From our standpoint, regional cooperation needs to be enhanced,” he told reporters.

The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty was signed in 1996. Bangladesh has been seeking a new arrangement that safeguards its interests, including adequate water flows during the dry season.

In his keynote speech, Kobir highlighted the importance of water diplomacy on multilateral platforms and discussed opportunities for Bangladesh to strengthen international partnerships, technology transfer and scientific cooperation.

He stressed the importance of effective international engagement and stronger cooperation with like-minded countries in advancing Bangladesh’s interests in transboundary water management.

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the seminar titled “Rethinking Water Futures: Youth Leadership, Justice, and Cooperation” to discuss water diplomacy on multilateral platforms and identify potential opportunities for Bangladesh to strengthen its efforts and cooperate with other like-minded countries.

Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee spoke as the chief guest at the seminar, chaired by BIISS Director General Major General ASM Ridwanur Rahman.

Minister Anee spoke about the importance of equitable and sustainable approaches to water resource management and transboundary water cooperation.

He emphasised the need for inclusive participation of relevant stakeholders and for ensuring that the interests of future generations remain an integral consideration in water governance and policymaking.

During the working session, Malik Fida Khan, Executive Director of the Centre for Science, Technology, Policy, and Diplomacy; Shaikh Muhammad Mehedi Ahsan, Principal Adaptive Planning Specialist at Deltares, Netherlands, and Vice President (01) of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP); and Zerin Ahmed, former Technical Coordinator, Y&W Engagement, Transboundary Rivers of South Asia, Oxfam International, participated as panellists.

Ridwanur Rahman highlighted the importance of water management and transboundary water cooperation for Bangladesh.

He emphasised the need for meaningful youth participation in water diplomacy, equitable water governance and sustainable management of water resources for future generations.

The discussions addressed various dimensions of transboundary water management, including water justice, inclusive governance, scientific and data cooperation, multilateral water diplomacy and public-private partnerships.

The panellists emphasised the need to view water management not only as an issue of resource allocation but also as a multidimensional concern closely connected with the environment, economy, food security, livelihoods, peace and regional cooperation.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for youth leadership and participation in decision-making and policy processes related to transboundary water governance.

The speakers discussed opportunities for inclusive governance and public-private partnerships in transboundary water management, as well as ways to amplify youth voices in water justice and integrate youth leadership and participation into transboundary water governance and decision-making processes.

Senior officials from various ministries and government agencies, diplomats, researchers, academics, water and environmental experts, faculty members and students from different universities, youth representatives, private-sector representatives, civil society members, NGO representatives, think-tank representatives and media professionals participated in the event.