India agrees to review Ganges water treaty

India has agreed to review the Indo-Bangladesh Ganges water sharing treaty to eliminate problems involving it.

The agreement was reached at a meeting between Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and her Indian counterpart Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Kathmandu on Friday evening.

Khaleda, who arrived in the Himalayan kingdom to attend the 11th Saarc summit, met Vajpayee at his hotel suite and discussed the matter in detail.

She focused on the problems in the flow of the Ganges being faced by Bangladesh and pointed out that the scope of review existed in the treaty.

Briefing newsmen after the meeting, Foreign Secretary Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury said the Indian prime minister said if there was such a request from Bangladesh "the review process may be set in motion."

During the 45-minute talks held in a very cordial and friendly atmosphere, Khaleda also spoke of equitable sharing of the other rivers flowing through the two countries.

The two leaders also discussed regional issues, particularly the tension between India and Pakistan. Khaleda mentioned Vajpayee's seniority and experience and requested him to take the initiative as the leader of a big country to reduce tension through a dialogue.

Narrowing of the existing trade gap in favour of India also came up for discussion during the talks. The Indian premier said the issue will be taken up at the meeting of the commerce secretaries of the two countries to be held in Dhaka this month.

The Indian prime minister, who met Khaleda for the first time since she took over as the prime minister of Bangladesh, raised the alleged oppression on minorities.

Khaleda said it was a law and order matter and asserted that her government had taken strong measures to ensure safety and security to all citizens.

The border demarcation issue between India and Bangladesh featured in the talks.

Vajpayee congratulated Khaleda for her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led four-party alliance's landslide victory in the October 1 general elections.

He invited Khaleda to visit India. Accepting the invitation, she reciprocated, inviting the Indian leader to visit Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Morshed Khan, PM's adviser on mass education Professor Jahanara Begum, PM's political secretary Haris Chowdhury and principal secretary Dr Kamaluddin Siddiqui were present during the meeting.

The Indian side included Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh, principal secretary Brajesh Mishra, Foreign Secretary Chokila Iyer and other senior officials.