Regional resolution of disputes over Ganges stressed

"I don't see any solution to the water problems other than a regional resolution," leading water expert and the Anti-Corruption Commission member Prof Moniruzzaman Mian told a function launching the Bengali version of Disputes over the Ganga, a Panos Institute Publication consisting of articles of experts from India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

He added that unlike all lower riparian countries including Egypt, Bangladesh was in a disadvantaged position because of socio-economic and political reasons, which made the country vulnerable to any unilateral interventions in the upstream regions.

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Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh (FEJB) held the dissemination seminar on the 'Disputes over the Ganga' in which the authors analysed counter-productive effects of the Farakka Barrage and other upstream interventions in common rivers in both India and Bangladesh. FEJB chairman Quamrul Islam Chowdhury presided.

The Daily Independent Editor Mahbubul Alam, the New Nation Editor Golam Tahaboor, BSS Chief Editor Gaziul Hassan Khan, UNB chief news editor Shamsuddin Ahmed, the News Today city editor Badiul Alam and journalist Mostafa Kamal Majumdar spoke at the dis-cussion.

Mahbubul Alam said India's river linking plan added a new dimension to the crisis with common rivers while "we are in a critical situation for being a downstream country with growing need for water due to growing population".