'Teesta trapped in the BJP and Trinamool conflict'

I feel that this trip of Bangladesh’s prime minister Sheikh Hasina is part of a continuous process. India’s prime minister Narendra Modi came to Bangladesh in 2020 to join the centennial of Bangabandhu’s birth. This is a return visit. Leaders of Bangladesh and India have been exchanging visits over the past 50 years. So a balance sheet shouldn’t be drawn up for each and every visit. The media make a lot of comments. Everyone has the freedom to express themselves. I do not think these comments are very important. Bangladesh’s prime minister has visited Delhi after a long time. Talks were held on the improvement of ties between the two countries. A joint statement was published. That itself is a progress. It isn’t right to expect everything in one trip.

If just one issue remains unresolved, that doesn’t mean the visit was a success or a failure. Those with one-sided views make such remarks. In bilateral relations, both sides have expectations. It takes a long time for all to be fulfilled. These things advance one by one. You must keep in mind that the issue of water is sensitive for both countries. The joint statement has placed emphasis on bringing the border killings down to zero. Both sides need to bring the criminals' rings along the border under control to prevent smuggling, drug trade, fake currency trade, human trafficking and such crimes. These criminal rings are the root of the problem.

This is a part of India's politics too. This is happening due to the conflict between BJP and Trinamool Congress. I would say that the Teesta water deal has been trapped in this conflict. But even without the Teesta water being resolved, efforts must be made about sharing the waters of the other rivers. I feel that the central government of Manmohan Singh government in 2011 failed to handle the Teesta issue properly. The West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that the centre hadn't discussed the matter of this deal with them at all. West Bengal should have been taken on board. West Bengal feels that the formula given in the water sharing deal will go against the interests of the people of the state. In 1996 the Ganges treat was signed taking the chief minister at the time Jyoti Basu on board. The problem cropped up because of the distance between the centre and the state.

There have been good developments in the power sector. Bangladesh will receive 1600 MW of electricity through a special transmission line from Jharkand. This is supposed to start on 16 December next year. Bangladesh has already been receiving 1200 MW of electricity from India. Once the Rampal plant starts up, another 1320 MW will be added to the national grid. Diplomacy today means economic growth.

There is politics in this too. Who told her not to go to Delhi? No one prevented her.

Such speculations are being widely made. I see no link between the elections and the prime minister's visit. We will vote in India's elections and the people of Bangladesh will vote in Bangladesh's elections. But, yes, the governments of both countries can have aspirations to work with those in the neighbouring country who will take bilateral relations ahead, will take connectivity and economic development forward. Annual trade between Bangladesh and India has reached 18 billion dollars now. This will increase further with the development of communications. These matters must have featured in the two prime ministers' discussions.

That is a misconception. We too can come up with a list of what India wanted, but did not get. However, we do not do so. Nothing is achieved by such negative narratives. Bilateral relations are to be taken ahead with a progressive and pragmatic mindset.

I do not see the scope of a separately delineated road from West Bengal to Meghalaya. There already exists road, rail and river communications between the two countries. Goods are being taken from Chittagong Port to northeast India. Bangladesh's territory is being used. Bangladesh's goods are going to Nepal and Bhutan over Indian territory. This connectivity is in the interests of both the countries. A survey will be carried out and the route that benefits both the countries the most will be used.

This did not go ahead because of Myanmar's internal problems. And if Bangladesh is to link up with this tri-nation road, it will have to establish road and rail links between Akhaura and India. Work on that is on.

The increase of duty on rice has nothing to do with the prime minister's visit. There is a global crisis in rice due to the Ukraine war. Many countries are buying rice from India, not just Bangladesh. India has increased export duty in order to keep maintain its domestic stock. This will decrease rice export somewhat. But I think that there can be a bilateral agreement between Bangladesh and India so that Bangladesh does not have to pay that extra duty.

Myanmar's relations with China are also very good. India has a problem. It has insurgent groups in Myanmar from where they carry out militant operations. Myanmar's cooperation is required to resist them. Then again, China wants to enter the Bay of Bengal through Myanmar. They are using Pakistan's Gwadar port too. That is why India can't put too much pressure on Myanmar. But India wants Myanmar to take back the Rohingyas. It has proposed the construction of homes and financial assistance too. We must keep in mind that there is a military junta in power in Myanmar and they are least bothered about international pressure or public opinion.

Thank you too