West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who had blocked the Teesta water sharing deal between India and Bangladesh four years ago, reassured Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Saturday of a breakthrough on the issue.
The visiting chief minister raised the Teesta issue during her luncheon meeting with Hasina at the latter's official residence Ganabhaban during the day, said the prime minister's spokesperson Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, according to a bdnews24.com report.
"Mamata Banerjee has assured our prime minister to work out a solution that protects the interests of both West Bengal and Bangladesh," Chowdhury said.
Banerjee termed the parleys as a "meeting of hearts". Sources close to her said the two leaders discussed bilateral issues.
The chief minister thanked the people and administration of Bangladesh for the warm hospitality and reception.
The Teesta water sharing pact had been put on hold after Banerjee's strong opposition over fears that the treaty could spell disaster for the northern part of her state.
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In September 2011, Banerjee had embarrassed then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh by pulling out of his delegation to Bangladesh over the water sharing agreement, forcing India to drop it from the agenda.
Though a solution to this vexed issue depends on the central governments of the two countries, the role of the chief minister of a border state like West Bengal is believed to be crucial.
Banerjee has said that the relations of the two Bengals (Bangladesh and West Bengal) are as "deep and durable" as the perennial rivers Ganga and Yamuna.
She also told Hasina that the bill for implementing the land boundary agreement between the two countries was likely to be through in the next session of the upper house of the Indian parliament starting end-February.
Banerjee had stoutly opposed both the deals since 2011 arguing that they went against the interests of West Bengal. However, with changing political realities in India, her stance on both these issues has changed considerably.
On the land boundary agreement, she had emphasised on a rehabilitation package for the enclave dwellers and noted that she was very positive about the issue being settled this time around.
Once the land boundary agreement (LBA) is passed, India will cede 111 enclaves totally measuring 17,160 acres to Bangladesh and receive 51 enclaves covering 7,110 acres. More than 51,000 people reside in these enclaves.
Later, Banerjee attended a conference organised by the entrepreneurs of Bangladesh and West Bengal. The participants discussed ways to improve trade relations between the two neighbouring countries, especially between Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Banerjee and her delegation were scheduled to leave Dhaka Saturday night.
The chief minister attended the main function at Dhaka's Shaheed Minar on the occasion of Mother Language Day Saturday, which commemorates the martyrdom of Bangladeshi youths during the Language Movement in 1952.
She paid homage to the martyrs.
"It is one of the most memorable moments in my life to be present at Shahid Minar, I am overwhelmed and deeply touched with emotions to experience this historic moment," she said.
Banerjee said it was her longtime wish to come to Bangladesh and pay tribute to the martyrs of the language movement. "This is a matter of pride for me."