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her look 'Tension over the Farakka Barrage - a Techno-Political Tangle in South
Asia' said:
...
it must not also escape our notice that being known as an 'anti-Indian' politician, he had
his difficulties in maintaining relation with India. Taking a hard line course, it may be easier
to prove one's sincerity towards the cause of the people, thereby to achieve quick support
of the people, but it may not produce any fruitful result for the well-being of the political
system. Many of the politicians in Bangladesh lack this basic political acumen. They try
to exploit the Farakka barrage, a sensitive issue of vital importance to the people but they
do not foresee if they are put in power, how they would adjust themselves with the geo-
political realities. After assuming power, Mushtaq Ahmed also could not ignore the facts of
geo-politics.
After a short spell of Mushtaq Ahmed's regime, General Zia-ur Rahman became
the President of Bangladesh in late 1975. In his time too, Bangladesh approached
the UN for interference on the Ganga water issue in September 1976. It was also
opposed by India on the ground that it was a 'bilateral issue of purely economic
nature'. Bangladesh retorted that the problem was multi-dimensional and as the
hindrances to a solution were political in nature, it ought to be included not only in
the General Assembly agenda, but also in that of its Special Political Committee.
Bangladesh's plea for its inclusion in the special Political Committee was accepted
but it did not evoke any sympathy of the international community and no debate
was held on the issue in the committee's meeting on 15th November 1976 and in
India's reply on the following day. However, in a meeting of the Committee on 24th
November 1976, both countries agreed to a consensus text, to be worked out by a
group of non-aligned countries. The important portion of the consensus statement,
titled 'Situation arising out of the “Unilateral withdrawal” of the Ganges waters at
Farakka' read as:
The parties affirmed their adherence to the Declaration on Principles of International Law
concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation among States in accordance with the
Charter of the United Nations and stressed in this regard their unalterable commitment
to strengthen their 'bilateral relation' by applying these principles in the settlement of
disputes
The parties undertook to give due consideration to the most appropriate ways of
utilizing the capacity of the United Nations system. It is open to either party to report to the
General Assembly at the thirty second session on the progress achieved in the settlement of
the problem.
...
The statement added that the two countries would 'meet urgently at Dhaka at
the ministerial-level for negotiation with a view to arriving at a fair and expeditious
settlement.'
Thus, the mission of Bangladesh was not fulfilled to bring the international forum
behind it on the Ganga water issue. Moreover, it had to agree that the issue was
'bilateral' and should be solved by the two countries themselves, in an atmosphere
of peace and co-operation instead of hostility and non-co-operation. However, India
had to accept, in an international forum, that the withdrawal of water in the lean
season of 1976 was 'unilateral' and an urgent solution was necessary through mutual
discussion and understanding before the next dry season.
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