FM ‘doesn't know’ about interim Teesta deal


FE Team | Published: June 05, 2018 18:36:46 | Updated: June 06, 2018 16:51:30


FM ‘doesn't know’ about interim Teesta deal

Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali has declined to make any comment on the Teesta water issue amid media speculation that the Teesta water-sharing deal will be signed with India before the next general election.

"Sorry, I don't know. I have no comment," he said while responding to a query from reporters at a briefing at the Foreign Ministry on the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Canada.

Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque was also present at the press conference, as per a UNB report.

Earlier, a Bangladeshi daily said India and Bangladesh plan to sign a three-year interim deal before the election.

The Teesta water issue remained pending for long with New Delhi saying that they could not convince the West Bengal government which is part of the deal as the river flows through the state.

The prime minister on May 25 visited the West Bengal to inaugurate Bangladesh House at Shantiniketan together with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

They also had tête-à-tête, but there was no announcement on the Teesta issue, according to a bdnews24.com report.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale during his visit to Bangladesh in April said: “We assure you that we are working hard internally to resolve the issue.”

 

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