West Bengal CM Mamata meets PM Hasina at Gono Bhaban

The much-talked about Teesta water-sharing issue would be resolved soon through protection of mutual interest of both Bangladesh and West Bengal, visiting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said today.

The assurance came when Mamata met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at latter's official residence, Gono Bhaban, this afternoon.

At the meeting, Mamata said she loved Bangladesh like her own country.
 
While briefing media about the meeting, PM’s Media Affair Adviser, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, said Mamata also assured the PM that the constitution amendment bills to operationalise the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) with Bangladesh will be passed in the upcoming parliament session of India that starts on February 23.

In a lighter tone Mamata told Hasina that they were not getting hilsa fish. Responding to Mamat's remarks, the premier told her that they would get hilsa after Bangladesh gets Teesta water, the adviser said.

Mamata -led West Bengal delegation entered Gono Bhaban around 12:40pm, where the prime minister herself received them.

The West Bengal team also attended a lunch hosted by the prime minister before their departure at 2:15pm.

Mamata is expected to attend a meeting with business leaders later in the day. She is scheduled to fly to Kolkata at 8:00pm.

The West Bengal chief accompanied by 39 people, mostly from her state's cultural fraternity arrived Dhaka on Thursday evening.

Among them are actor and Ghatal MP Deepak Adhikari Dev, filmmaker Arindam Sil, singer Nachiketa, singer-politician Indranil Sen, actress Moon Moon Sen MP and poet Subodh Sarkar.