Teesta water-sharing deal not soon

DHAKA NEWS

Teesta water-sharing deal will take some more time till the interests of all concerned, including those of Paschimbanga, are addressed.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was told this by her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during a discussion on the Teesta accord and transit, among other issues, at Addu in the Maldives yesterday.
The two leaders held the talks at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort in the afternoon, hours before the opening of 17th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit.
Briefing reporters, Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai later said Manmohan conveyed to Sheikh Hasina that India needed some more time to build consensus on the Teesta issue. “Whatever agreement we reach, we will have to take into account the interests of all concerned.”
The Teesta river accord could not be signed during Manmohan Singh’s Dhaka visit in September due to last-minute opposition from Paschimbanga Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
However, the two premiers agreed to move forward in all areas of bilateral relations, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
Manmohan thanked Hasina for her government’s assistance in security cooperation, especially in relation to action against insurgents from northeastern states of India.
They also discussed the implementation of projects identified under the one billion dollar line of credit India had pledged to Bangladesh during Sheikh Hasina’s trip to New Delhi in 2010.
On the Feni water sharing, it was decided that an agreement could be signed along with resolution of issues relating to sharing of water of other common rivers.
Mathai said there were no substantive differences between the two countries and Indian state of Tripura also had no objections to the Feni river issue.
The Indian premier expressed his positive attitude towards different issues and said Bangladesh and India enjoy very good relationship and this will be strengthened in the future.
Sheikh Hasina appreciated Manmohan’s visit in September when India allowed 24-hour access to Bangladeshi nationals to the Teen Bigha Corridor, the gateway to Dahagram-Angorpota enclave.
Bangladesh PM’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told UNB that the two leaders had positive discussion on the Teesta water sharing and transit for India.
Sheikh Hasina expressed hope that the completion of the strip maps of the remaining parts of the common border would be signed soon. The ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement and the Protocol would take place soon to put to rest the issues of exchange of enclaves and adverse possession of lands.
Bangladesh expects that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for movement of Bhutanese and Indian trucks up to 200 yards across the zero line at Burimari-Chengrabanda and Benapole-Petrapole to be operational soon, the premier said.
Her government was seriously considering the Indian request for opening haats on Bangladesh-Mizoram-Tripura border, she said, adding Kurigram border haat was doing well.
Hasina thanked the Indian premier for granting Rohanpur-Singabad rail route for Nepalese transit cargo through Bangladesh. “All three countries will benefit from this connectivity.”
Referring to the three trial runs for the multi-modal transport from Ashuganj to Agartala under PIWTT, she said Bangladesh is waiting for feedback to move forward.
Purchase of electricity from India also came up for discussion in the meeting, UNB adds.
Hasina underscored the importance of signing an agreement in this regard soon. “I hope we will be able to buy power from Palatana Power Plant in Tripura and from other power projects in the northeast India, Bhutan and Nepal.”
The premier also hoped that the projects financed by Indian grants, on Feni Bridge, Akhaura-Agartala rail link, upgradation of road from Ashuganj to Akhaura will start soon.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Ambassador at Large M Ziauddin, Foreign Secretary Mijarul Quayes, among others, were present at the meeting.