Dhaka:Bangladesh’s ruling BNP has congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party for its massive victory in West Bengal but slammed outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Baneejee for blocking the Teesta water-sharing deal between Dhaka and New Delhi. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has also hoped for continuation of peaceful ties between the two countries.
BNP Information Secretary Azizul Baree Helal praised BJP’s showing under Suvendu Adhikari and said the result could help improve relations between West Bengal and Bangladesh.
Helal said he hoped the political change in West Bengal would pave the way for progress on the Teesta water-sharing agreement, a matter pending for years. The main hurdle to the deal, he said, was the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government.
Earlier we saw it was actually Mamata Banerjee who was the hurdle in setting up the Teesta Barrage. In my opinion, now that BJP has won the election under the leadership of Suvendu, the Teesta Barrage agreement which was very much desired by the Bangladesh government and the Modi government should be helped by Suvendu," he told ANI.
Teesta pact may be realised under BJP: BNPAn agreement could be taken forward if a BJP government led by Suvendu Adhikari works in tandem with the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Helal said.
“The victory of BJP can further improve the relation between Bangladesh and West Bengal which shares the longest border with Bangladesh among all Indian states,” he added. Helal termed the development a positive sign to solve long-standing cross-border issues between Dhaka and Kolkata.
“He further said he believed that the Teesta Barrage project could now move ahead under a BJP government in West Bengal after replacing the Trinamool Congress.
About India-Bangladesh Teesta pactThe Teesta water-sharing pact is a long-pending agreement between India and Bangladesh over sharing waters of the river Teesta, which flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh.
In 2011, an interim agreement was drafted under which India would get 42.5% of the Teesta’s water and Bangladesh 37.5% in the lean season between December and March, while 20% would be left for environmental flow. However, the agreement was not signed as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed it citing concerns of water scarcity in north Bengal.
Bangladesh has long wanted the pact and says the Teesta waters are vital for irrigation and livelihoods in its northern districts. The central government in India has also supported action on the issue but water is politically sensitive because any agreement that works needs West Bengal's consent. Mamata Banerjee has said that the sharing of Teesta water could affect drinking water and irrigation needs in north Bengal.