Modi reassures of resolving Teesta issue

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today again assured visiting Awami League delegation to resolve the much-talked about undissolved Teesta Rive water sharing issue.

“I am trying to resolve it,” Modi came up with the assurance when the delegation led by AL General Secretary Obaidul Quader called on the Indian premier at his official residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, according to Minister (Press) of the Bangladesh High Commission Farid Hossain. 

Modi also praised Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her bold and courageous leadership in the remarkable socio-economic development in Bangladesh.

Earlier, while asked about the outcome of the meeting, Quader said, “Extremely well. It was very positive.”

He, however, did not like to come up with further details of the meeting saying that Minister (Press) of the Bangladesh High Commission Farid Hossain would brief the media about the meeting.

The meeting between Modi and the four-member Awami League delegation began around 4.15pm and lasted for half an hour, Hossain said later.

Praising leadership of Hasina, the Indian prime minister said Hasina is treading the path of development shown by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

 “In terms of socio-economic development, Bangladesh has advanced much ahead of Pakistan,” Modi told the Bangladesh delegation.

Modi said: “Look at your country. You are much ahead of Pakistan in socio-economic indicators.”

Referring to the Rohingya refugee issue and Bangladesh’s role in providing shelter to “forcibly-displaced people” from Myanmar, the Indian premier said his country wants an early resolution to the problem.

He also supported Bangladesh’s position on the issue.

Quader, the Road Transport and Bridge Minister, conveyed the good wishes and greetings of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the people of Bangladesh to Modi.

Considerable political significance is being attached to the AL delegation’s meeting with Modi as it marks a party-to-party relationship (between AL and BJP) in the run up to the general elections in Bangladesh likely to be held either end of this year or early next year.

Political situation in Bangladesh and BNP’s stance on participation in the next general elections also figured in the AL’s talks with Modi, source inside the party said.    

At the meeting Quader, who reached Indian on Sunday for a three-day visit at the invitation of BJP, was accompanied by AL presidium member Pijush Kanti Bhattacharya and party Joint General Secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Jahangir Kabir Nanak and Abdur Rahman. Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali was also present.