Hasina hopes B'desh, India will work out Teesta water deal

New York, Sep 21 (PTI) Hailing Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh's recent visit to Bangladesh as "really
successful," Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina has expressed
optimism that her country will be able to work out the Teesta
water sharing agreement with India.
India and Bangladesh had inked various pacts during
Singh's visit early this month but could not sign a deal on
the Teesta water sharing.
Hasina said she was not disappointed that the two sides
could not sign the Teesta water sharing deal during the visit.
"I am not that much disappointed because I feel we can
solve this problem (Teesta water sharing) bilaterally and I am
very much optimistic about it," Hasina, who is here to attend
the 66th UN General Assembly, said at the Asia Society.
She said Bangladesh and India have developed an interim
plan on sharing water.
Hasina said she is confident that through bilateral
negotiations, the countries can resolve any issue.
Bangladesh "had a problem with India" on sharing of the
Ganga waters but the countries resolved the issue and signed a
30 year treaty, she said, referring to the comprehensive
bilateral treaty signed in December 1996 establishing a three
decade long water-sharing arrangement.
On her country's relations with India, Hasina said the
two share a common legacy through the legendary Rabindranath
Tagore, who wrote the national anthems for both countries.
With India, Bangladesh has a "friendship and bondage" and
"we should continue that," she said.
Expressing gratitude over Singh's generosity to agree to
the establishment of connectivity of Bangladesh with Bhutan
and Nepal, Hasina said this would help create a conducive
atmosphere in the region.