The first round of the meeting of the joint India-Bangladesh River Commission was held in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss the sharing of Teesta waters and other outstanding issues. Later speaking to newsmen, the Water Resources Minister, Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal said that the two sides have made good headway. He said there will be two more meetings today. Mr. Bansal said, he is hopeful that certain issues will be finalised at the talks.<br/><br/>Expressing similar sentiments, Mr. Mustafa Farooq Mohammed, MP and member of the delegation told AIR that the manner in which the two sides have dealt with the issue of dredging of Ichamati River can be a model on how the common rivers can unite and not divide the people and the nations.<br/><br/>The India-Bangladesh Joint River Commission meeting took off on a positive note. Both sides executing warmth and hope to find solution to contentious issues related to sharing of water. The Water Resources Minister Mr. Pawan Kumar Bansal said after the first round of meeting that there has been a forward movement and is hopeful of a positive outcome.<br/><br/>We have discussed herewith ministers and the delegation. The issue that are pending, joint rivers commission, which is meeting after about five years and we believe, we have done something to carry forward our mandate and also to take forward to a better height, the expectation that was taken, created by the last visit.<br/><br/>A Bangladesh delegation member Mustafa Farooq said that the manner in which the two sides have dealt the Ichhamati Dredging issue is an example of how the common rivers can unite the nations instead of dividing them.<br/><br/>This is a very good solution of this problem. This is something model, how you can address the common rivers, how you can build. The river should not divide but should unite.<br/><br/>As per the river Teesta is concerned, the two have different views on the arrangement and modalities for sharing the water specially during the lean season, but the way in which the two sides have approached the talks that is the hope that some solution will eventually emerge on contentious issue.