Bangladesh on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Netherlands to prepare the "Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100" in order to build up a 50-100 years water management system.
Under the deal, Bangladesh will conduct about 20 studies of different types at the main rivers and adjoining areas with the Dutch help. Planning Minister AK Khandker and Dutch Minister for Development Dr Ben Knapen signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides at the Prime Minister's Office. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina witnessed the signing of the deal.

Boston-based Alliance for a Secular and Democratic South Asia has observed that India must consult with co-riparian countries for any project on shared rivers.
The Alliance formed in 1993, came up with the remarks at a meeting held recently at MIT, Cambridge, USA to discuss India's recently revived River Linking Project, according to a message received here.

Although Pakistan has opened up its borders for enhanced trade with India, water disputes remain unresolved which several analysts, including US officials as noted in Wikileaks, believe may well be the reason for a war between the two countries.

India has already announced it would complete 330-megawatt Kishanganga hydroelectric project by 2014 despite the fact that the issue is pending in the International Court of Arbitration (ICA)/ neutral expert at The Hague in the Netherlands.

The UPA Government, which had earlier faced a major embarrassment from its ally Trinamool Congress on the Teesta water agreement, has renewed efforts to convince Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to sign the pact with Bangladesh on grounds that it is beneficial to both countries.

Teesta water sharing, ratification of land boundary agreement and early signing of an extradition treaty would dominate talks between India and Bangladesh at the first Joint Commission meeting likely to be held in May.

Foreign Minister Dipu Moni would lead Bangladesh delegation to New Delhi for the first meeting of the new mechanism formed to oversee implementation of initiatives as well as explore ways for cooperation, including progress of activities under the Framework Agreement signed in Dhaka last year.