Shama Obaed hopes India will make the right decision on Ganges water treaty renewal

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed has expressed hope that India will make the right decision regarding the renewal of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty.

She made the remarks on Monday while responding to questions from journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Asked about the treaty, which is set to expire this year, Shama said it would be renewed.

“We believe and hope that India will make the right decision,” she said.

She was also asked to comment on a statement by National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam, who said, “If water does not reach Bangladesh, there will be no corridor and no transit.”

In response, Shama said, “If we have to secure our rightful share, then I have to fight for it. If I have to fight for it, then I have to talk to them. As simple as that. That is diplomacy.”

She said a high-level committee, comprising the water resources minister and the finance adviser, had already been formed to continue discussions on renewing the existing treaty. Talks on the issue are also taking place at various levels between the governments of the two countries, she added.

“Our discussions will proceed based on what is our legitimate demand and what the people of Bangladesh need,” she said.

India commissioned the Farakka Barrage on the Ganges, a transboundary river shared by Bangladesh and India, in 1975. The nearly two-kilometre-long barrage, built just 16 kilometres upstream of the Bangladesh border, significantly reduced water flow downstream into Bangladesh.

Against this backdrop, the two countries signed a 30-year Ganges Water Sharing Treaty on December 12, 1996. The treaty is set to expire on December 12, 2026, leaving one month and 10 days until its expiry as of November 2, 2026.

Saudi Arabia yet to respond to Bangladesh's letter over executions

Shama said Saudi Arabia has yet to respond to a letter sent by Bangladesh seeking details about the execution of two Bangladeshi nationals, even though more than two weeks have passed since it was sent.

She added that Bangladesh's mission in Saudi Arabia was maintaining regular communication with the Saudi authorities over the matter.

On October 14, Saudi authorities executed two Bangladeshi nationals, Nazrul Islam Abdul Basir and Sweety Akhtar, in the Makkah region.

Following the executions, Bangladesh sent a letter to the Saudi government seeking information on six issues, including the reasons for the executions, details of the judicial proceedings and the whereabouts of the bodies.

Bangladesh to seek climate funds as grants, not loans

Responding to another question, Shama said Bangladesh will call for climate financing to be provided as grants rather than loans at an upcoming climate conference in Antalya, Turkey, beginning on November 9.

The country will also highlight how people in Bangladesh and across South Asia are coping with the impacts of climate change.

She said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would attend the conference for a brief period and participate in several high-level meetings.