STAFF CORRESPONDENT/AGENCIES
SHILLONG, July 15: The two-day Asian Confluence River Festival - DI, 2016 got underway here today where observers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and India and experts on rivers and rural development came together to explore the possibilities of enhancing cultural ties and amplifying the creative use of riverine connectivity.
The festival, organised by the Asian Confluence, India, East Asia Centre, Shillong, in collaboration with the state government and the Maula Abul Kamal Azad Institute of Asian Studies, is a celebration of the spirit of commolity between the North Eastern states and neighbouring countries through rivers of the region.
It is aimed at offering the participants a great networking platform with access to both intellectual as well as entertainment events, with a special focus on the shared borders with Bangladesh.
Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, Bangladesh Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Bangladesh Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla, former Ambassador of Bhutan to India, Dago Tshering, High Commissioner of Bangladesh in India, Syed Muazzem Ali and High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla spoke at the iugural session.
Delivering the iugural address, Sangma said the festival through dialogue and engagement with stakeholders, would pave way for effective convergence and “actioble” for using rivers for mutual benefit and prosperity in the region.
“We need to look at the holistic system of maging our rivers and have a comprehensive action plan involving all stakeholders to ensure that rivers, through scientific usage, become a source of prosperity to all,” Sangma said.
Stating that every livelihood activity revolves around sources of water, the Chief Minister said it was important to ensure that everyone in upstream area understood the ramification of their activities.
He stressed on importance of waterways and on the need to use the tural course of rivers for cheap and environment friendly transportation.
“...to ensure the hydrology of rivers remain sustaible, we also need to see that the state is capable of taking care of the sustaibility of the livelihood of the people who are in upstream and catchment areas,” he added.
Bangladesh Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Rashed Khan Menon underscored the importance of linking the seven sister states of India with Bangladesh to complete the economic co-operation from his country where South East Asia ends.
North East India and Bangladesh can complete the edifice of South East Asia co-operation”, menon stated, even as he make mentioned about the land locked seven sisters of North east. He further said that Bangladesh is committed to regiol co-operation with focus on water and road connectivity because it will bring about a win-win situation to both India and Bangladesh.The other aspect was on restoring the post 1947 connection that will help in achieving the objectives of economic integration.
Bangladesh Union Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam stated, “If we are looking at development in all dimensions, I wish to replace the word ‘Rival’ with ‘rivers’ because it is as important for the North eastern region of India as well as the south western Bangladesh”.