August 25, 2003	Monday	Jumadi-us-Sani 26

DHAKA, Aug 24: after a long wait of two-and-a-half years, New Delhi, has invited Dhaka to an official meeting of Indo- Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) to discuss the pending water-sharing disputes between the two co-riparian countries.

The last time the JRC met was in Dhaka in January, 2001, when both sides agreed to have talks every six months, alternately in Dhaka and New Delhi.

India has also proposed the last week of September as the probable time for the talks.

When asked about the Indian proposal, Dr Tauhidul Anwar Khan, JRC member from the Bangladesh side, said “we’ve just received the invitation letter and we’ll finalize the date for the 35th JRC meet through mutual understanding.”

The most contentious issue at the moment, the river-linking plan by India, will feature prominently in the talks, apart from other issues of sharing the waters of 54 common rivers, an official of the water resources ministry said.