Teesta could make the difference

Senior diplomats say about outcome of PM’s India tour

The just-concluded India visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been good, but it could have been much better had the much-talked about Teesta water sharing agreement been concluded, a top official of the foreign ministry told The Independent yesterday.

“It was good. We are happy. Most importantly, the prime minister is happy,” he said when asked to sum up the visit.
Asked if the visit could have been better, the official, thoroughly involved with the visit, said, “(It) could be better if Teesta water sharing agreement could be signed.”
Asked about the future of the deal, he said, “I am always optimistic.”
Also, he mentioned: “You would not be able to even imagine the depth of the personal relationship between Prime Ministers Hasina and Modi.”
Referring to the tête-à-tête (one-to-one meeting) between the two heads of the government before the delegation-level talks, he said, “We have got our PM utter all the hard words during that period.”
According to another official, the 
tête-à-tête was scheduled for half an hour, but it was extended to nearly 45 minutes leaving less time for the delegation-level talks.
“What else have you to discuss when the two prime ministers already spoke for 45 minutes,” he said.
During the delegation-level talks, he added that the prime ministers read out the points of Bangladesh’s interest including border killing and Modi responded to some of them.
About the visit itself, the officials concerned of the ministry expressed satisfaction mentioning hospitality and Indian Prime Minister Modi’s appearance at the airport departing from the usual practice.
On the outcome, however, they sounded less exuberant, saying that whatever they did in New Delhi they did so keeping the national interests as the topmost priority. “Look, we have tried our level best to get the Teesta deal done. But it did not happen because the matter is not in the hands of either Narendra Modi or Sheikh Hasina,” said a senior official.

“My understanding is that Prime Minister Modi is firm and he will get it done convincing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the near future,” he said. 
Agreeing with him, a senior diplomat at the Bangladesh High Commission in India said, “Modi will have to do that. Election is approaching and Prime Minister Hasina needs it to be done before the election.”
On the success of the visit, the officials said that being able to complete the visit itself is a success and it has seen some new areas of cooperation like in the fields of power, nuclear technology and construction of pipeline from Siliguri to Parbitipur on grant for transporting diesel.
And, the signing of three-dozens of bilateral instruments cannot be underestimated, they said.
About the $4.5 billion line of credit (LOC) declared by India during the visit, a government official said that the conditions to use the money are same as the first two -- one declared by former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in September 2011 and the other by Narendra Modi in June 2015.
According to former Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain, if the conditions are same it will be very difficult to implement them.
Of the conditions of the first two LOCs, one was to procure 75 per cent of the materials from India which can be brought down to 65 per cent, if necessary, said the official.
In response to a question, if Bangladesh asked for the money and whether the country needed the money right now, he said, “Please, ask Prime Minister’s Economic Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman for the answer.”
Dr Rahman, however, could not be reached on his mobile despite repeated attempts.
Meanwhile in a meeting, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque yesterday thanked the officials of the South Asia wing of the ministry for the ‘successful’ completion’ of the prime minister’s visit.

Teesta could make the difference

Senior diplomats say about outcome of PMs India tour

The just-concluded India visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been good, but it could have been much better had the much-talked about Teesta water sharing agreement been concluded, a top official of the foreign ministry told The Independent yesterday. It was good. We are happy. Most importantly, the prime minister is happy, he said when asked to sum up the visit. Asked if the visit could have been better, the official, thoroughly involved with the visit, said, (It) could be better if Teesta water sharing agreement could be signed. Asked about the future of the deal, he said, I am always optimistic. Also, he mentioned: You would not be able to even imagine the depth of the personal relationship between Prime Ministers Hasina and Modi. Referring to the tte--tte (one-to-one meeting) between the two heads of the government before the delegation-level talks, he said, We have got our PM utter all the hard words during that period. According to another official, the tte--tte was scheduled for half an hour, but it was extended to nearly 45 minutes leaving less time for the delegation-level talks. What else have you to discuss when the two prime ministers already spoke for 45 minutes, he said. During the delegation-level talks, he added that the prime ministers read out the points of Bangladeshs interest including border killing and Modi responded to some of them. About the visit itself, the officials concerned of the ministry expressed satisfaction mentioning hospitality and Indian Prime Minister Modis appearance at the airport departing from the usual practice. On the outcome, however, they sounded less exuberant, saying that whatever they did in New Delhi they did so keeping the national interests as thetopmost priority. Look, we have tried our level best to get the Teesta deal done. But it did not happen because the matter is not in the hands of either Narendra Modi or Sheikh Hasina, said a senior official. My understanding is that Prime Minister Modi is firm and he will get it done convincing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the near future, he said. Agreeing with him, a senior diplomat at the Bangladesh High Commission in India said, Modi will have to do that. Election is approaching and Prime Minister Hasina needs it to be done before the election. On the success of the visit, the officials said that being able to complete the visit itself is a success and it has seen some new areas of cooperation like in the fields of power, nuclear technology and construction of pipeline from Siliguri to Parbitipur on grant for transporting diesel. And, the signing of three-dozens of bilateral instruments cannot be underestimated, they said. About the $4.5 billion line of credit (LOC) declared by India during the visit, a government official said that the conditions to use the money are same as the first two -- one declared by former Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in September 2011 and the other by Narendra Modi in June 2015. According to former Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain, if the conditions are same it will be very difficult to implement them. Of the conditions of the first two LOCs, one was to procure 75 per cent of the materials from India which can be brought down to 65 per cent, if necessary, said the official. In response to a question, if Bangladesh asked for the money and whether the country needed the money right now, he said, Please, ask Prime Ministers Economic Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman for the answer. Dr Rahman, however, could not be reached on his mobile despite repeated attempts. Meanwhile in a meeting, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque yesterday thanked the officials of the South Asia wing of the ministry for the successful completion of the prime ministers visit.