DHAKA: The fate of the much-talked-about Teesta water sharing treaty has become uncertain again as the upcoming meeting of the Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) has been deferred.

Sources said Indian Water resources and River Development minister Uma Bharti, in a letter sent to Water Resources minister Anisul Islam Mahmud on July 24, informed that she would not be able to attend the meeting.”

“Earlier, Bangladesh government sent a letter inviting Uma to attend the meet after Indian new cabinet’s first meeting,” the sources added.

Diplomatic sources said, “Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina’s next visit to India somewhat depends on holding of JRC’s meeting, because the more the JRC meaning is getting delayed, the decision on Teesta water sharing getting holdup too; in the mean time, no progress in the land boundary agreement,”

The premier’s tour to India amid no final decision any of these issues would make the visit controversial, opined the expert diplomats.

Bangladesh is taking many diplomatic steps with India for long to sign the deal. It is the 38th meeting JRC which was set to be held in June 18-19 of 2013 in Dhaka. 

In March, 2010, in 37th JRC meeting at New Delhi, the two countries agreed to sign a deal on a sharing of Teesta water.

Teesta water is vital for irrigating around 6.4 lakh hectares of cropland in Bangladesh’s northern part during the lean season..

BDST: 1427 HRS, AUG 13 ,2014/ updated 1520hrs