Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasised need to find solutions to major bilateral issues, including Teesta water sharing between India and Bangladesh without further delay.

Bangladesh PM pins hopes on India, Indian buses for Bangladesh

Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Sunday handed over the keys of 20 buses to Bangladesh. India will hand over another batch of 30 buses along with 88 air-conditioned coaches by April this year. This forms part of $1 billion line of credit to Bangladesh, the largest single line of credit extended by India to any country, the external affairs ministry said.

Days ahead of the first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Investment ( CCI), the Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), the statutory body for advising on forest clearances, rushed to clear a little over 20 projects, including those in mining and power.

The CCI, set up to hasten big-ticket infrastructure projects, had its first meeting on January 31. According to sources, as many as 30 projects came for hearing before the seven-member FAC on January 21-22. Of the seven members, only three were present.

After concentrating on thermal power for a long time, the West Bengal government has now decided to give priority to the development of hydro power projects in the 12th and 13th plan period.

In contrast to China’s unilateral move to construct dams on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra, India has taken a different route with respect to dams on rivers it shares with Bangladesh.

India and Bangladesh have identified several projects including the controversial Tipaimukh hydel project in which Dhaka could have equity participation. Over time, some portion of the electricity generated by projects on common rivers could accrue to Bangladesh, said official sources.

Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran said his country is not obstructing water flow of the Teesta River.

The major rivers and tributaries have been drying up abnormally in the Brahmaputra basin much ahead of the seasonal dry season this year due to the adverse impacts of global climate change, reports

MAJOR international rivers like the Brahmaputra and the Teesta have dried up abnormally at their Bangladesh sections with the advent of dry season unlike other years.

The Forest Advisory Committee (FAC), under the ministry of forests and environment, has scheduled yet another meeting on Friday for clearing projects in violation of the Central Information Commiss