DHAKA, June 28, (v7n): Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee has announced that the feasibility study for the highly anticipated Teesta Mega Project will be fast-tracked to ensure physical work on the development layout can commence without delay.
The Minister disclosed the information while speaking to the media upon his return from China, where he accompanied Prime Minister Tarique Rahman during an official state visit.
"China has officially agreed to conduct the comprehensive feasibility study for the Teesta project. We will work in close coordination with them to conclude the entire assessment rapidly," the Minister stated. He added that Bangladesh has also sought China's technical cooperation for the overall systemic management of its river networks, noting that since China shares hydrological connections with several regional rivers, strategic adjustments will be coordinated jointly.
The bilateral meetings between high-level delegates from Dhaka and Beijing secured critical commitments for the northern riparian region of Bangladesh:
Fast-Track Timeline: The government aims to unveil the finalized Teesta development master plan to the public at the earliest opportunity, with special financial focus given to initiating project groundwork within the current national budget cycle.
High-Level Advocacy: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directly placed the Teesta issue on the agenda multiple times during formal bilateral sessions with the Chinese President, the Chinese Premier, and China's Minister of Water Resources.
Mitigating Public Suffering: The joint implementation framework is designed to bring definitive relief to hundreds of thousands of residents living across the Teesta River basin who have faced structural hardships, seasonal flooding, and severe droughts for decades.
Historical Context of Bilateral Ties
Minister Anee highlighted that China holds its relationship with Dhaka in high regard due to a deep, multi-generational diplomatic history.
A Legacy of Cooperation: Official bilateral relations between the two nations were originally established in 1976 under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, who visited Beijing twice during his presidency. The diplomatic bridge was subsequently reinforced by former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who traveled to China seven times during her tenures in office.
The breakthrough comes on the heels of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first official overseas tour since assuming office, which spanned Malaysia and China from June 21 to 26. During his four-day stay in China, the Premier attended the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of the New Champions (Summer Davos) in Dalian before holding high-level diplomatic briefings in Beijing, returning to Dhaka on Friday evening.
