DHAKA : Water Resources Minister Md. Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee today pledged to make the Padma Barrage plan operational and visible by January-February next year, saying the interests of seven crore people in 24 to 26 districts are closely linked to the project.

He also expressed hope that Prime Minister would present a strong statement in favour of Bangladesh on the Ganges Water Treaty at the United Nations next month.

The minister made the remarks while addressing a seminar titled "Ganges Water Treaty: Issues for Renegotiation" as the chief guest at the Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) auditorium in Dhanmondi.

Referring to recommendations made at the seminar, Anee stressed the need to establish the right to information in all future water-sharing treaties and revive the "guarantee clause" scrapped in the 1977 treaty.

State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad also spoke as the special guest.

He highlighted the lack of navigability of the country's 54 rivers and called for greater awareness to ensure Bangladesh's future water security.

Former adviser to the Interim Government and Dhaka University Law Professor Asif Nazrul presented the keynote paper, "Ganges Treaty: New Thinking Needed".

BILIA Honorary Director and Dhaka University Law Professor Muhammad Ekramul Haque delivered the welcome address.

Prof. Dr. M. Feroze Ahmed, Emeritus Professor of Stamford University Bangladesh and former BUET professor, participated as discussant.

He stressed reviewing Bangladesh's sector-wise water requirements under Integrated Water Resource Management before formulating demands.

BILIA Chairman and Dhaka University Law Professor Dr. Borhan Uddin Khan delivered the concluding remarks.

Senior government officials, lawyers, academics, researchers, diplomats and university students attended the seminar.