India, May 17 -- Bangladesh on Saturday stated that the future of its ties with India will "depend on" the Ganges water treaty. The statement from Dhaka comes as the water sharing pact nears its expiry.

"We want to send a clear message to the Indian government that a (new Ganges) treaty must be implemented immediately through discussions according to the expectations and needs of Bangladesh's people," said Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Alamgir added that good relations with India will depend on whether the treaty is renewed.

The BNP spokesperson's remarks also come days after Bangladesh approved a mega project to build a barrage on the Padma river, which is what the Ganges is known as...