The West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, today met the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, here and the two leaders discussed the issues relating to Bangladesh and India.
While the issues related to settlement of Teesta water sharing pact and ratification of the land boundary agreement were expected to come up during the talks, it was not clear as to what transpired between the two leaders during the 30-minute one-to-one meeting.
Hasina has hosted a luncheon in honour of Banerjee.
Mamata, who arrived here on Thursday on a three-day visit, has said that she was keen to respond to Bangladesh’s “expectations” from West Bengal.
Her visit has raised hopes of a breakthrough in the settlement of Teesta water sharing pact and ratification of the land boundary agreement.
Mamata Banerjee is here on her first visit to Bangladesh since assuming office as the West Bengal Chief Minister in 2011.
She has proposed a series of steps to cement the cultural bond between her State and Bangladesh, including the construction of a ‘Bangabandhu Bhaban’, a building to be named after the country’s founder Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Mamata Banarjee is also set to meet President Abdul Hamid.
Bangladesh and India were set to ink the Teesta agreement during the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit in 2011 but Mamata Banarjee precluded herself from his entourage at the last minute opposing the treaty.
The Teesta deal was shelved as the West Bengal Chief Minister had objected to the proposed quantum of waters, saying it would harm her State.