Dhaka, Oct. 8 -- Bangladesh is seeking to rewrite its Ganges water-sharing deal with India before the 1996 treaty expires in December, with a guarantee for its dry-season share high on the agenda.

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said Thursday that Dhaka was hopeful of completing a new or revised agreement before Dec 12, when the 30-year treaty expires.

Speaking after a seminar in Dhaka, he said talks were continuing through the Joint Rivers Commission.

"Our main priority will be to bring back the guarantee clause that was included in the 1977 agreement," Anee said.

The 1977 agreement, signed for five years, contained a guarantee clause that was dropped when the current 30-year treaty was signed in 1996, he said.

"...