Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-After the the resolution of the land boundary and maritime issues, Bangladesh is now looking up to India for an “immediate signing” of the Teesta water-sharing accord, which the two governments had agreed over four years ago.
The demand for early signing of the pending deal was made by Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam at the “India-Bangladesh dialogue” in Dhaka on Friday, reports The Hindu.
Referring to the pending water deal, which the Congress and BJP-led governments failed to sign due to objections from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Ali said the settlement of the land boundary issue showed that “anything is possible if political will is there”.
He mentioned that water was “a very sensitive and important issue” in Bangladesh-India relations.
“In fact, we are enjoying the best of relations with India. It has now reached a new height, set a new paradigm,” Ali said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister’s International Affairs Adviser Gowher Rizvi said recently there will be “no new negotiation” over the signing of the pending Teesta water sharing deal.
“The issue is now in India’s court,” Mr. Rizvi.
Alam, the State Minister, said Bangladesh had “fully delivered by undertaking specific measures to address India’s security concerns”.
“With more and more dedicated institutional mechanisms being put in place, we are having better, targeted and coordinated action in various sectors of security. And the cooperation will continue,” he said.
BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav, speaking at the function, said New Delhi would solve all issues with Dhaka.
“In the last four decades, I think you have realised that although we are a big country, we are not big brother.”
BBN/SK/AD