India evolving consensus on Teesta deal: Sushma

In the first high-level bilateral engagement after the installation of the NDA government, India on Thursday assured Bangladesh that efforts were on to evolve a national consensus on the contentious Teesta river water sharing deal.

New Delhi also announced easing of visa norms for certain categories of visitors from Bangladesh.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who chose Bangladesh for her first stand-alone foreign visit since assuming office, had “constructive and productive” meetings with top leadership here including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina besides having detailed discussions with her Bangladeshi counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.

Sharing of Teesta river water and the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) which was agreed upon by the previous UPA government were high on Bangladesh’s agenda during the talks.

The Bangladeshi side appeared to be satisfied with the discussions on these two issues.
Indian officials said Sushma told the Bangladeshi side that efforts were on to have a national consensus on Teesta water sharing deal.

Significantly, hours before departure to Bangladesh, Sushma spoke to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose party Trinamool Congress prevented the previous Congress-led government from signing the Teesta water sharing deal with Bangladesh.

In 2011, Mamata, then an UPA ally, backed out from prime minister Manmohan Singh’s Bangladesh visit, opposing the Teesta water sharing treaty, following which it was shelved.

On LBA, the External Affairs Minister told her counterpart that the matter was before a Parliamentary Committee and will be given “due consideration.”