Teesta hope rises with Mamata's trip

Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal chief minister, arrives today on a three-day visit to Dhaka generating hopes that there will be a breakthrough in the Teesta water-sharing deal and improved relations between the two neighbours.
Diplomatic sources said talks would focus particularly on the contentious Teesta water-sharing and Land Boundary Agreement, which Mamata opposed in the past.
This is her first visit to Bangladesh since taking office in 2011. She made headlines on September 7 that year by opting out at the last minute of the delegation led by the then prime minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka because of her opposition to the water-sharing deal. As a result, the Teesta agreement could not be signed.
The Teesta river, which has its origin in Sikkim, flows through the northern part of West Bengal in India before entering Bangladesh and joining the Brahmaputra river.
“Certainly, the Teesta water-sharing issue will come up for discussion,” said a diplomatic source in Dhaka, adding, “West Bengal is looking to build positive relations with a friendly neighbour Bangladesh.”
Two issues -- finding an acceptable formula to share the Teesta waters and the ratification of a Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) -- have cast a shadow over bilateral ties between Bangladesh and India, although relations have been on the upswing since 2009 when Awami League assumed power.
Ahead of her arrival, Mamata Banerjee has expressed hope to reporters in Kolkata that her visit to Bangladesh would further strengthen ties between Bangladesh and her state and promote business between the two sides.
Mamata, invited by Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on the occasion of “Bhasa Divas” on February 21, pitched for stronger trade and cultural linkages between Bangladesh and West Bengal.
"I will carry to Bangladesh the message of enhanced trade links and other exchanges between West Bengal and Bangladesh,” she told reporters.
The West Bengal chief minister will lead a 39-member delegation with a business team, besides a cultural troupe, with the aim of increasing trade and investment between West Bengal and Bangladesh, said sources at the foreign ministry and the Indian High Commission.
Mamata will be accompanied by Firhad Hakim, West Bengal Minister of Urban Development, Bratya Basu, West Bengal Minister of Tourism, Deepak Adhikari MP, Moonmoon Sen MP, Sanjay Mitra, chief secretary, and other senior officials, said the high commission sources.
As per the programme schedule, Mamata will arrive in Dhaka by an Air India flight at 9:00pm. Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam will receive her at the airport.
She will hold an interaction over lunch with eminent litterateurs and cultural personalities at Sonargaon Hotel tomorrow at 12:30pm. She will call on President Abdul Hamid at Bangabhaban at 4:00pm and then visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum.
In the evening, the chief minister will attend a reception hosted by the Indian high commissioner.
Mamata will place a wreath at the Central Shaheed Minar after the president and the prime minister. Later, she will call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina likely at the Gano Bhaban on Saturday noon.
Mamata is expected to address a business event to be organised by the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Indian Chamber of Commerce.
She is also likely to attend high tea with Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali at State Guesthouse Jamuna and depart for Kolkata on Saturday at 10:00pm.


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