State Government Would Play A Positive Role In Solving The Teesta Water Sharing Issue: Mamata

"We all love Bangladesh and try to give importance to its interest. It's also our country... we would play a positives role in solving the Teesta water sharing issue soon by protecting the interest of both West Bengal and Bangladesh," she said.

The West Bengal chief minister came up with the assurance in a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official Ganobhaban residence here this noon.

After the meeting, PM's Media Adviser Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury briefed reporters. PM's Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri was present.

The PM's media adviser said the Prime Minister first held a meeting with the West Bengal delegation led by Mamata Banerjee. Then the two leaders had a one-to-one meeting for about half an hour.

"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the West Bengal Chief Minister discussed the bilateral issues related to Bangladesh and West Bengal meaning India in a cordial environment," he said.

Replying to a query as to who first raised the water sharing issue, Iqbal sobhan Chowdhury said: "The West Bengal chief minister first raised the issue and told our honourable Prime Minister not to worry about the Teesta water sharing agreement. It would be done keeping intact the interest of West Bengal and Bangladesh."

"Don't keep any tension about the Teesta deal, it would be done positively," Mamata Banerjee said categorically, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury mentioned.

About the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), Mamata Banerjee said the LBA which has already been placed in Indian Lok Sabha would be passed in its coming session that starts on February 23.

"Though the issue is between the central government of India and the Bangladesh government, I played a positive role as the (West Bengal) chief minister," she said.

"We have reached a consensus (about the issue) and asked our central government to ratify the LBA in the upcoming Lok Sabha session....there is now no hurdle to approve the agreement and it would be implemented in the coming Lok Sabha session," she added.

In this connection, the Prime Minister said Bangladesh's parliament ratified the LBA much earlier and reminded the sufferings of the enclave people.

In reply, the West Bengal chief minister said she is aware of the sufferings of the enclave people as she visited different enclaves. "That's why a consensus has been made among us and I hope that it would be passed in the coming session of Lok Sabha starting Feb 23," she said.

At the outset of the meeting, Mamata Banerjee said she was overwhelmed by the invitation Bangladesh extended to her for joining the Amar Ekushey programme. For this, she thanked the Prime Minister and said she took the matter with utmost importance.

She said she came to Bangladesh by crossing all hurdles and the relationship between West Bengal and Bangladesh is very deep and extensive like the relations between the Ganges and the Jamuna.

The PM's media adviser said there have been long time relations between the Prime Minister and West Bengal CM . "The West Bengal chief minister sees the PM as her elder sister, while the Prime Minister sees Mamata Banerjee as her younger sister," he said.

The West Bengal CM mentioned that she was little during Bangladesh's War of Liberation and she used to listen to the programmes of Swadhin Bangla Betar Kendra.

She also mentioned that the immortal song "Shono Ekti Mujiborer Kontha theke" is her favourite song and she sang part of the song before the Prime Minister. Mamata Banerjee said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is also a great leader to them. "They have also good relations with Bangladesh Awami League," she said.

The West Bengal chief minister told the Prime Minister that she is very much respectful to the PM's leadership and said there is a necessity to further deepen and make extensive the bilateral ties between Bangladesh and India.

"As the West Bengal chief minister, I would play my role to further consolidate the bilateral ties," she clearly said.

The PM's media adviser said the West Bengal chief minister put emphasis on increasing cultural ties between Bangladesh and West Bengal side by side with expanding relations in the field of trade and commerce.

She put a proposal before the Prime Minister to form a committee to arrange joint cultural festivals with participation of artistes and cultural activists from Bangladesh and West Bengal.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will lead Bangladesh side at the committee, while Mamata Banerjee will nominate a minister from her cabinet for the committee.

The West Bengal CM mentioned that the artists of Bangladesh are talented and they are very popular to the Kolkata people.

At the meeting, Mamata Banerjee also proposed introducing direct bus services from Kolkata to Agartala via Dhaka.

During the meeting, Mamata invited Sheikh Hasina to visit West Bengal to lay the foundation stone of Bangladesh Bhaban to be constructed in Kolkata as a symbol of Bangladesh-West Bengal relations.

She also requested the Prime Minister to visit Kolkata to inaugurate Bangabandhu Chair at Biswa Bharati University. She said Nazrul University will be established at Biswa Bharati University after the name of the National Poet of Bangladesh.

The PM's media adviser said the Prime Minister accepted the invitation cordially.

The West Bengal Chief Minister said a new dimension has been added to West Bengal-Bangladesh relations and hoped that the relations would be long lasting.

On a question whether the Indian Prime Minister will visit Bangladesh on 26th March, the PM's media adviser said Mamata Banrejee's visit laid the foundation of the tour of the Indian PM to Bangladesh.

The PM's media adviser said it has been proved in today's talks that there is weakness in the heart of the West Bengal CM for Bangladesh and she introduced her chief secretary and others who have their roots in Bangladesh.

Mamata Banerjee said categorically that Bangladesh has no separate existence before West Bengal and its people and they have a weakness for Bangladesh. "I hope that the ties would be further consolidated through contact between politicians, artistes as well as businesspeople of the two neighbours," she said.

She said as a leader and the chief minister of West Bengal, she and her party will play a due role in strengthening ties between Bangladesh and West Bengal.

About broadcasting of Bangladeshi TV channels and movies in West Bengal, the West Bengal Chief Minister said her state government would take initiatives so that Bangladeshi TV channels and movies could be aired in West Bengal.

She also underscored making more films in joint venture to further strengthen the ties and gave the assurance of all sorts of support from her state government.

Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said, the West Bengal Chief Minister presented a Photo of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to Sheikh Hasina while the Prime Minister presented a picture of boat to Mamata Banerjee.

While presenting a picture of boat, the symbol of Bangladesh Awami League, the Prime Minister told Mamata Banerjee with a smile that "water remains in the river". In reply, the West Benga CM said: "Rest assured that there would be arrangement of water (in the rivers)."

When an Indian journalist wanted to know whether any discussion took place on solving problems of Hilsha export, the PM's media adviser said Mamata Banerjee raised the issue and said jokingly that "We are getting less Hilsha fish". In reply, the PM said Hilsha would go if water comes.

Later, the Prime Minister hosted a luncheon in honour of the West Bengal Chief Minister and her delegation at her Ganobhaban residence.

Photo: Saiful Islam Kallol