| Teesta deal in 3 months Posted: 07 Sep 2011 11:44 AM PDT 
Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen have expressed hope that the stalled treaty on sharing of Teesta water will be signed within three months. "I am not disappointed as the deal was only delayed," Muhith on Wednesday said, adding that he expects a restored Teesta water-sharing agreement will be signed in the next three months. The hoped- for deal on water sharing was postponed because of last- minute objections from the Indian state Paschimbanga, prompting visiting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to term the debacle unfortunate. The setback has undermined the much-orchestrated visit by Manmohan while it has come as a major obstacle to signing agreements on facilitating transit to India. Terming the sharing of Teesta water the most important issue for the government, Muhith anticipated that it will take up to three months to ink the Teesta deal. Asked if there would be further talks on the deal, he told reporters at the Secretariat that discussions are still on and there will be more. Water Resources Minister Ramesh Chandra Sen said, "We are not frustrated. We hope that we will reach an agreement on sharing Teesta water within three months. "Paschimbanga Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will take part in a by-election soon. So, she is in trouble. We hope she will respond positively to the Teesta issue after the polls," Ramesh added. |
| Khaleda disappointed at Teesta deal failure Posted: 07 Sep 2011 11:42 AM PDT 
Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia during the meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday expressed disappointment at the failure to sign the deal on Teesta water sharing. "Our chairperson has expressed frustration and disappointment at the failure to sign the deal on Teesta water sharing," BNP vice-chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury told journalists after the 30-minute talks between Khaleda and Manmohan that began at 4:00pm at the presidential suite of Sonargaon Hotel. Manmohan Singh also expressed regret as the much-hyped agreement had not been signed during his visit to Dhaka, he added. The Indian Prime Minister assured Khaleda that the two countries would find a viable formula to resolve the issue regarding Teesta water sharing with equity and fairness. Shamsher Mobin quoted Manmohan Singh as saying, "Instruction has been given to ensure the deal on sharing of Teesta water on priority basis." Manmohan told Khaleda that they want good relations with BNP in future. "I hope that unsettled issues will be resolved through bilateral talks. I think relations between the two countries will be strengthened further," Manmohan Singh was quoted as saying. He also praised late president Ziaur Rahman for his outstanding contribution towards formation of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc). Khaleda told Manmohan that they would not have any objection if transit facilities are provided to all South Asian countries, including China. Welcoming the Indian Prime Minister, Khaleda said both Bangladesh and India expect good relations between the two countries. "Our main objective of good relations is to ensure mutual benefit and interest of the two people," Khaleda was quoted as saying. She hoped that the two countries would work together to strengthen bilateral relations and maintain good relations. BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Khaleda's advisers Reaz Rahman and Sabih Uddin Ahmed were also present. |
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