The Teesta River issue will feature prominently on the bilateral agenda during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to China from 23-26 June, Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam said on Saturday.
Speaking at a curtain-raiser on the prime minister’s visits to Malaysia and China from 21-26 June, Siam said Bangladesh and China are set to sign at least 16 instruments during the visit.
“Thirteen memorandums of understanding (MoUs), two agreements and one action plan have been finalised for signing. We are also working on several other instruments, which will be signed if finalised in time,” he said.
Responding to a question, the foreign secretary said discussions on the Teesta River would be held within the broader framework of integrated water resources management rather than as a standalone issue.
“The discussions are expected to be extensive and expanded, potentially covering the management of other rivers as well as broader aspects of water resources management,” he said.
Siam noted that discussions with China on the proposed Teesta project have been underway for years, involving successive governments.
“A feasibility study for the project was conducted earlier and is now being revisited and reviewed. The review includes technical aspects such as the size of the reservoir and other operational details,” he added.
During the Malaysia leg of the tour, Bangladesh will prioritise discussions on labour recruitment, halal trade and seek Kuala Lumpur’s support for its inclusion in regional economic frameworks, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
