The New York-based International Farakka Committee (IFC) has expressed satisfaction that almost all political parties in Bangladesh have mentioned river-water and environment in their manifestos for the December 30 polls. The commitments in the manifestos would help these parties and alliances to make plans on this “vital question of life and death of the people” in future, said an IFC statement issued yesterday.

Almost all political parties in the country have participated in seminars, opinion-exchange meetings and human chains organized by IFC to raise awareness about manmade disasters caused by unsustainable management of common rivers.

The manifesto of the newly formed Jatiya Oikyafront said that water sharing of Teesta and all common rivers as well as all bilateral problems, including the Rohingya issue, would be solved speedily through talks.

Oikyafront component BNP has promised to take initiatives with the spirit of regional mutual cooperation to secure due share of international rivers flowing through Bangladesh on the basis of international river laws.

The ruling Awami League in the objectives and plan section of its manifesto has said that cooperation in all areas including Teesta water sharing, bilateral trade, and security cooperation would continue. Initiatives would continue for basin-wide joint management of common rivers and harnessing of hydroelectricity on the basis of sub-regional cooperation with India, Nepal and Bhutan.

Jatiya Party (Ershad), another component of the 14-Party Alliance, has pledged to ensure the welfare of farmers and agriculture. The party, however, did not specifically mention rivers and water sharing.

In its manifesto, the Left Democratic Front has said its target was to ensure the signing of the UN Water Courses Convention of 1997 for finding solutions to inter-country differences and conflicts over common rivers, and formulate and implement a comprehensive water policy and expand the irrigation system.