Foreign minister Dipu Moni has said the Teesta water-sharing deal will be signed with neighbouring India 'shortly'.
Referring to her meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, she told reporters in Chandpur Sadar Upazila on Saturday, "In the meeting Mamata told me that she also wanted Bangladeshis to get their share of Teesta waters. She also expressed her interest about the agreement."
Dipu Moni met Mamata on Wednesday evening in Kolkata on her way back to Dhaka, after attending a regional conference in India.
After the meeting, Mamata told reporters that the Teesta water-sharing deal would be signed ensuring the interests of her state and Bangladesh.
The agreement between Dhaka and Delhi ran into troubled waters after Mamata backed out of a visit to Dhaka with India prime minister Manmohan Singh in early September.
She was reportedly upset that the final draft of pact that was to be signed during the high-profile Dhaka visit was not shown to her.
Later, Indian foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai made it clear that no agreement will be signed without the state's consent.
Bangladesh retaliated by postponing the signing of a crucial deal on the cross-border transit that would have allowed India to use Bangladesh's southern seaports of Chittagong and Mongla.
The botched deal kicked up a storm in both Bangladeshi and India media, with some calling into question India's sincerity in furthering bilateral ties.
Before leaving Dhaka, Manmohan said India's inability to sign the deal was 'unfortunate.' Two months later, on Nov 13 he said he wanted a 'national consensus' for a 'realistic' solution to the issue
"Signing the deal is a matter between the governments of the two neighbouring countries. The West Bengal government has a vital role in this regard since the river flows through West Bengal," she said at a function.
Dipu Moni earlier inaugurated the 'Mid-Day Meal' programme, to combat hunger, through distributing foods among the students of Raldia Government Primary School.
She also inaugurated a weeklong cooperative fair at the Chandpur Central Shaheed Minar premises.
Referring to her meeting with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, she told reporters in Chandpur Sadar Upazila on Saturday, "In the meeting Mamata told me that she also wanted Bangladeshis to get their share of Teesta waters. She also expressed her interest about the agreement."
Dipu Moni met Mamata on Wednesday evening in Kolkata on her way back to Dhaka, after attending a regional conference in India.
After the meeting, Mamata told reporters that the Teesta water-sharing deal would be signed ensuring the interests of her state and Bangladesh.
The agreement between Dhaka and Delhi ran into troubled waters after Mamata backed out of a visit to Dhaka with India prime minister Manmohan Singh in early September.
She was reportedly upset that the final draft of pact that was to be signed during the high-profile Dhaka visit was not shown to her.
Later, Indian foreign secretary Ranjan Mathai made it clear that no agreement will be signed without the state's consent.
Bangladesh retaliated by postponing the signing of a crucial deal on the cross-border transit that would have allowed India to use Bangladesh's southern seaports of Chittagong and Mongla.
The botched deal kicked up a storm in both Bangladeshi and India media, with some calling into question India's sincerity in furthering bilateral ties.
Before leaving Dhaka, Manmohan said India's inability to sign the deal was 'unfortunate.' Two months later, on Nov 13 he said he wanted a 'national consensus' for a 'realistic' solution to the issue
"Signing the deal is a matter between the governments of the two neighbouring countries. The West Bengal government has a vital role in this regard since the river flows through West Bengal," she said at a function.
Dipu Moni earlier inaugurated the 'Mid-Day Meal' programme, to combat hunger, through distributing foods among the students of Raldia Government Primary School.
She also inaugurated a weeklong cooperative fair at the Chandpur Central Shaheed Minar premises.
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