West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi objecting to talks on water sharing between the Center and Bangladesh. At the time of this agreement, Bengal was not invited to participate. Underlining the close ties between Kolkata and Dhaka, he wrote, “Such one-sided discussions and debates without the input of the state government are neither acceptable nor desirable.”
Pointing out the exchange of Indo-Bangladesh enclaves, Indo-Bangladesh railway line and bus services, the Chief Minister said that the state of West Bengal has cooperated with Bangladesh on many issues in the past. “However, water is very precious and the lifeline of the people. We cannot compromise on such a sensitive issue which seriously and adversely affects the people,” he said.
10 agreements signed with Bangladesh
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a conversation on Saturday. Key outcomes of the talks between Modi and Hasina included India soon sending a technical team to Bangladesh for conservation and management of the Teesta River, including a move towards opening negotiations on a comprehensive trade agreement and conservation. The two sides signed 10 agreements to strengthen ties in key areas such as digital sector, maritime sector, maritime economy, railways, space, green technology, health and medicine. The two sides also agreed on a ‘futuristic vision’ for transformative cooperation in many new areas between the two ‘faithful’ neighbours. The main focus of the talks between the Prime Ministers of the two countries was to find ways to enhance India-Bangladesh cooperation in digital and energy connectivity. Both sides also resolved to work towards peaceful management of borders between the two countries.