Ms Mamata Banerjee’s strong position on Teesta river water sharing and land boundary demarcation agreement with Bangladesh, once billed as a done deal, threatens to ruin the election prospect of Sheikh Hasina apart from leaving Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his government totally red faced. “India and Bangladesh have been highly matured good friends. The friendship is genuine. It has acquired the maturity to live with some brief phases of frustration and move on. India has a lot to offer to Bangladesh for its economic development – from electricity supply to line of credit,” explained an Indian diplomat.

According to Bangladesh, India had been keen on holding the meeting between the two premiers on the sideline of the UNGA to make Hasina understand that India’s ruling Congress had sincere intention to complete the deals. But it had failed because of India’s internal political compulsions.
 Diplomatic sources from Dhaka and New Delhi, however, tried to downplay the meeting saying it was a customary meeting between the two as both the governments are going to complete their tenure soon. Therefore, there was no possibility of getting any significant outcome from this bilateral meeting, they added.

Amid opposition from the BJP, Trinamool Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad, the ruling Congress could not table in parliament the constitutional amendment bill, which was required to ratify the long pending land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh after both sides agreed on the issue and technicalities surrounding the accord. West Bengal chief minister’s invisible presence overshadowed the otherwise cordial dialogue between Dr. Singh and Sheikh Hasina. The Indian prime minister sincerely regretted the delays in the two pacts seeing the light of the day too soon. Mamata has opposed both pacts in view of ground realities and her own political compulsion.

The two prime ministers discussed bilateral issues and reviewed the implementation of pledges made by the two countries. Hasina was due to pay her second visit sometime this month at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But she is now unlikely to make the trip ahead of the country’s next general polls where she was hoping to sell a done deal on the Teesta and land boundary agreements to her voters. “We have no indication from Bangladesh that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be visiting,” said a source.

Bangladesh officials feel Hasina’s visit to India does not make any sense as the land boundary and the Teesta agreements may not going to see the light of day before polls in both the countries. They say India had been insisting on holding the meeting between the two premiers on the sideline of the UNGA to make Hasina understand that India’s ruling Congress had sincere intention to complete the deals to finalise the agenda of the meeting.
 Amid opposition from the BJP, Trinamool Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad, the ruling Congress could not table in parliament the constitutional amendment bill, which was required to ratify the long pending land boundary agreement.

But, India is hopeful that the government would be able to present the constitutional amendment bill in the next session of Parliament. As for now, there is 100 per cent flow of Teesta water into Bangladesh. The talks ended in a very cordial atmosphere.

India has offered US$ two-billion line of credit to Bangladesh, including a grant element of $200 million. Of this, Bangladesh has already utilised $150 million. India promised to begin power supply to Bangladesh from October.

Sheikh Hasina introduced her daughter, an eminent social worker, to the Indian PM. It was her birthday. Dr. Singh wished her success and long active life to pursue her objectives and contribute to the social sector. (IPA Service)