AGARTALA, July 10 (TIWN): Bangladesh's former Foreign Minister Dipu Moni has reiterated the need for a 'Basin regime' for the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna river system that will transcend the boundaries of Bangladesh and India to harness the waters of common rivers for hydel power and marine resources of the region.

She said the new regime would include India, China, Bhutan, Nepal and Myanmar besides the Bay of Bengal itself.

She said the benefits of such a "basin regime" would be manifold.

"It would enable a holistic approach, rather than a case -by-case approach to cross-border or international issues by facilitating Joint Basin management of the common rivers, harnessing hydro power potential in the region and realising joint undertakings in the sea-regime, including the sea-bed," she told the TIWN on the sidelines of the first Tripura Conclave..

"A shared future Basin regime would recognise the divergent needs and priorities of each State on both the existing and emerging principles of international law," Moni.

The Bangladesh MP who left Agartala today, said the Basin regime, secured by a Basin instrument, would strive for a higher and better quality of life, materially, economically and socially.

She said a Basin regime would also address issues historically ignored by erstwhile imperial powers, but which are quintessentially important. Such a regime would advance the strengths of each of its component civilisations, three or five thousand years old.

Dipu Moni hoped that India will be able to sign the Teesta river water sharing deal soon and would then focus on a holistic solution of the water sharing on the 54 common rivers.

She said the two countries would increase cooperation on trade and security issues.

Dipu Moni also said Bangladesh was as much clued up to developing relations with Indian states around Bangladesh as with India itself .

"We cant overlook the interest of the sub-region that comprises Indian states around Bangladesh and our country. We have common interests and shared aspirations," she said.