Kolkata, Feb 19 (IANS) Hours before her maiden visit to Bangladesh as the West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee Thursday remained mum on the contentious Teesta water sharing deal but exuded confidence of a breakthrough in the land boundary agreement.
"I won't say anything on Teesta. If you have questions on other issues, you can ask," Banerjee told media persons at the state assembly premises.
Banerjee said she has assured External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that West Bengal and Bangladesh - who share the common language Bengali - were continuing to build bridges.
"We have already informed the central government about our willingness for the settlement of the land border agreement. We have told the centre about preparing a rehabilitation package for the enclave dwellers. We are very positive about the issue being settled this time," Banerjee said.
Once the land boundary agreement (LBA) is passed, India will cede 111 enclaves measuring 17,160 acres to Bangladesh and receive 51 enclaves covering 7,110 acres. More than 51,000 people reside in these enclaves.
"We need to think and plan about the enclave dwellers. We have sent a proposal of rehabilitation package for the enclave dwellers to the central government," said Banerjee, who had earlier opposed the pact only to make a U-turn after the BJP-led central government expressed its eagerness to ratify the agreement.
"Sushma Swaraj also called me up to offer her best wishes. I assured her we will continue our efforts of building bridges," said Banerjee, who heads the Trinamool Congress.
The Teesta water sharing pact has been put on hold after the Trinamool's strong opposition, over fears that the treaty could spell disaster for northern West Bengal.
In September 2011, Banerjee had embarrassed then prime minister Manmohan Singh by pulling out of the prime minister-led delegation to Bangladesh over the water sharing agreement, forcing India to drop it from the agenda.
During her three-day trip to the neighbouring nation beginning Thursday, the chief minister will meet Bangladesh President Mohammad Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"Besides having a one-to-one meeting with Hasina, I will also meet the president and their external affairs minister. A business delegation is accompanying us and we will have a business meet there.
"Our Singapore visit was very fruitful which was evident during the Global Business summit here. We hope our Bangladesh visit will also be very fruitful," Banerjee said.
The chief minister, who is undertaking the trip on an invitation by Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali, will attend the main function at Dhaka's Shaheed Minar on the occasion of Mother Language Day Feb 21, which commemorates the martyrdom of Bangladeshi youths during the Language Movement in 1952.
Banerjee is also scheduled to address a business conclave organised by the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) in association with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Kolkata.
She would be visiting the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum in Dhanmondi and also be present at a reception hosted in her honour by India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pankaj Saran.
State Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, Tourism Minister and playwright Bratya Basu, actors-turned-MPs Deb and Moonmoon Sen, and business magnates Harsh Neotia and J.P. Choudhury are part of the entourage.
Government to set up 2.5 lakh common service centres
New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) The government has proposed to set up 2.5 lakh common service centres (CSC) to extend services to citizens near their residences, Communications and IT Minister Ravi
Dhanteras 2023 Upay: Do these special measures on the occasion of Dhanteras, the doors of wealth will open.
Dhanteras ke Upay: Dhanteras worship has special significance in the Hindu religion. This festival is celebrated on the Trayodashi date of Krishna Paksha of Kartik month. Dhanteras is also called
Effect of fog: 12 flights were canceled due to rain and bad weather, many trains were delayed by 18 hours; commotion at the airport
Transport service remained disrupted on Thursday due to rain and fog. 12 flights to and from Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport Babatpur were canceled. Angered by this, the passengers created a
Delhi: Jahangirpuri violence is the result of settling Bangladeshi people - BJP said, 'AAP' gave this answer
After the violence in Delhi's Jahangirpuri, now the police are engaged in the investigation. The arrest of the accused is going on as well as a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court to take Suo
Awantipora Encounter: One terrorist killed in Awantipora encounter, security forces killed 8 terrorists in three days
Security forces are raining havoc on terrorists in the Kashmir Valley. A terrorist has been killed by security forces in an ongoing encounter in Tilwani Mohalla of Awantipora Trial. This is the sixth
Warm, sunny Thursday in Delhi
New Delhi, March 19 (IANS) It will be a sunny and warm Thursday in the national capital, the Met Office said."The sky will remain clear and the day would be warm," an official of the India
Marked improvement in female literacy: Economic Survey
New Delhi, Feb 27 (IANS) India has witnessed a marked improvement in female literacy, the Economic Survey said Friday.Though male literacy is still higher at 80.9 percent than female literacy at
BJP's big bet before Kerala election, 'Metro man' E Sreedharan may soon join party
BJP has played a big bet before the assembly elections in Kerala. E Sreedharan, popularly known as Metro Man, can join BJP soon. BJP has requested Sreedharan to contest assembly elections in Kerala.
Law student mobilized: Letter to Bar Council of thousands of students, requesting for internal assessment by canceling the examination
Students from the government to private law colleges in the country have written a letter to the Bar Council of India BCI, because of the epidemic period, have made several important suggestions for
Upcoming Hollywood Movies: These Hollywood movies coming on OTT from April to June, full dose of action and drama
Between April and June, many blockbuster Hollywood films are going to appear on OTT platforms. Many of these will also be streamed in the Hindi language. The sequel to Extraction will come in the
