Though Bangladesh and India are yet to drop any hint that the long-standing Teesta water sharing deal will see a significant progress, a renowned international relations expert says Indian Prime Minister Narandra Modi’s visit may carry some surprises which may even include the Teesta deal, reports UNB. “My hunch is that there’ll be some surprises and breakthroughs that may even include the Teesta deal,” Prof Dr Imtiaz Ahmed told UNB. He believes that Indian Prime Minister Narendra would love settling the Teesta issue this time or may declare that it will be done with next two-three months when Bangladesh Prime Minister will visit New Delhi. Prof Imtiaz, a teacher at Dhaka University’s International Relations Department and the director of Centre for Genocide Studies at the university, said he will not be surprised if the Teesta deal is settled as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is also coming to Dhaka.
Or else, he thinks, it will be proved that Mamata is more powerful than Modi, which Modi is unlikely to make that happen. “Let’s see what happens as it’s difficult to exactly say what’s going to take place.” However, former Ambassador M Humayun Kabir sees no possibility of Teesta settlement during Modi’s much-hyped Dhaka visit. “No, I don’t think there’ll be any progress on the Teesta issue,” he told UNB adding that the scope for settling the Teesta deal has not yet created as many issues related to it have not yet ‘aligned’. Responding to a question, the former Bangladesh Ambassador in the USA and Deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Kolkata, also said the LBA will be formalised if the document is exchanged during the visit and then it will go through implementation process.
Mamata’s Separate Visit
Though it was initially thought that Mamata would accompany Modi during the visit, the latest development indicates that she would be visiting Dhaka separately. Asked whether this indicates any negative notion, Prof Imtiaz Ahmed said if Mamata stays in Dhaka during Modi’s visit that is ‘good enough’.
“Her decision to come separately may be linked to her preoccupation at home. She may show she’s not like other chief ministers. We have to understand she’s not like other chief ministers - Tarun Gogoi and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar,” he added. Prof Imtiaz said Modi and Mamata are now in better term, and there have been basic changes in their ties over the last few weeks, indicating a political compromise. “So, I don’t see any political problem and I’m hopeful there may be some surprises that may even include Teesta.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said she would visit Bangladesh on June 5 and return home on June 6 after the signing the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA). “I will be reaching Bangladesh on June 5 and will be back on June 6 after the signing of the Land Boundary Agreement,” Banerjee told reporters at the state secretariat in Kolkata.
Modi silent on Teesta
Modi, however, did not give any direct answer about the long-pending Teesta water sharing deal when Raj Chengappa, Editor-in-Chief of the Tribune Group of Newspapers, wanted to know whether there will also be a deal on the sharing of Teesta waters during his Dhaka visit.
He only said, “We had settled the long-pending land boundary issues with Bangladesh by taking all parties into confidence. The media has not realised this was a massive achievement and is talking of other issues. Had this been elsewhere in the world this would have been cited as an example as big as the fall of the Berlin Wall.”
“The entire mood of our neighbourhood has changed dramatically because of our message of shared prosperity being implemented on the ground. Mine is practical and outcome-based diplomacy,” he added.
Modi and China Influence
When Prof Imtiaz’s attention was drawn to a report carried by an international news agency claiming that Modi’s Dhaka visit is part of India’s mission to reduce China’s influence on South Asia, he said, “I don’t think so, at least at this age of globalisation.  Unnecessarily it’s being linked with China influence. I think China-India relations are now deeper than before.” Considering the current situation, the expert also said, Modi is now more open to have greater relations with China. “Reducing the influence of China is
not the objective of Modi’s visit. His objective could be having more Chinese and Bangladeshis investment in the Indian Northeast which would be much smarter one.”
He said Modi has not given any indication that he is competing with China. In this context, Ambassador Humayun Kabir said it might be Modi’s priority. “But I don’t want to go for that point of view. Our priority is to have stronger ties with India and other emerging economies ensuring improved lifestyles for the people of the region.”
He said if China, India and Myanmar can work jointly why not Bangladesh. “We need to bring it on focus.” Connectivity with India
From Indian perspective, Humayun Kabir said India is getting gradually what it desired from Bangladesh in terms of stronger connectivity between the two countries—shipping, railways linkage and others. India may offer US$ 2-3 billion line of credit mostly targeting development of connectivity between the two countries, he said.The former diplomat said Bangladesh can also utilise the scope by flagging other issues like water sharing of 52 rivers, boosting ties on educational front, easing visa regime and securing temporary work permit for Bangladeshis in India.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to pay a State visit to Bangladesh from June 6-7 at the invitation of her Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina. This visit, Modi’s first to Bangladesh, reflects the importance attached by India to the bilateral relationship, according to Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The visit is expected to further expand the cordial and cooperative relationship between the two countries and strengthen the ties of friendship and trust between Bangladesh and India.