India committed to resolving Teesta, LBA issues: PM
India committed to resolving Teesta, LBA issues: PM
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today conveyed to Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury that New Delhi is fully committed to resolving long-pending issues of Teesta river water-sharing and passage of land boundary accord in parliament.
During a 30-minute meeting with Chaudhury, who is currently on a four-day visit to New Delhi, Singh told her that it is India's "political commitment" to resolve Teesta and LBA issues and his government was continuing efforts for a domestic political consensus on both the issues and hoped to resolve them, reports our New Delhi correspondent.
Main opposition BJP and Trinamool Congress have opposed a constitution amendment bill to approve the LBA demarcating the boundary between the two countries and exchange of 161 enclaves, a spokesman of Bangladesh high commission in India said.
While Bangladesh has cleared the LBA long ago, Indian parliament is yet to approve it and repeated attempts by Singh's government to place the bill in parliament was thwarted by BJP, Trinamool Congress and Asom Gana Parishad in the last two years.
The spokesman said the Indian PM appreciated the steps taken by the Sheikh Hasina government to help the minorities in Bangladesh who had come under attacks in the run up to and after the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh recently.
The issue of bilateral trade deficit came up during the meeting and Singh told Chaudhury that India has removed several restrictions on exports from Bangladesh and Bangladeshi businessmen should exploit that opportunity fully. If any further hurdle arises for them in doing that, India is willing to consider that, he said.
The Jatiya Sangsad Speaker proposed greater exchange of visits by parliamentarians of India and Bangladesh and sharing of ideas, which was promptly endorsed by Singh.