Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud  on Thursday said the government is optimistic about signing the much-expected Teesta river water sharing agreement as the former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh committed to solve the issue.

"The former Indian Prime Minister agreed to the treaty and the government is trying to resolve the matter ... . (and) Bangladesh believes India will fulfill the commitment," he said.

He was speaking at a two-day workshop titled "Developing regional collaboration in river basin management in response to climate change: The Tessta River Basin" at hotel Sonargaon in the city.

Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI) of Australia organized the event with the help of Australian Aid.

"Water management of trans-boundary rivers will help Bangladesh to eradicate poverty," said the minister.

The two-day workshop will discuss different subjects including, 'Prospective on Governance and trans-boundary river management', 'Echo-systems services valuation: Teesta in Bangladesh' and 'Water security and India-Bangladesh Challenges/opportunities.'

"Rivers mean a matter of survival for Bangladeshi people," said Anisul Islam, adding that people of Bangladesh would have to cooperate with the government to protect rivers.

"The workshop aims to compare issues associated with trans-boundary management of the Teesta River, which spans India and Bangladesh," MSI Project Manager Simon J Rowntree told BSS.

BSS/QH