Hope Teesta deal will be inked during Modi visit: Bangla envoy

Bangladesh today said it was looking forward to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Dhaka and hoped that the long-pending Teesta pact will be inked during the trip besides expansion of cooperation in key areas of energy and connectivity.
Hailing the passage of a bill by parliament to operationalise the Land Boundary Agreement that provides for exchange of enclaves between the two countries, Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Syed Muazzem Ali said "if you want a good border, you should have a good neighbour".
On Teesta river water-sharing pact, Ali hoped it will be signed during Modi's upcoming visit to the country while noting that Indian government has briefed Bangladesh on the "internal" discussions the Centre was having with West Bengal government.

Asked about dates for Modi's visit to Bangladesh, he said they have not been decided yet. "Got a set of dates that we are working on."
The Teesta deal was set to be inked during the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Bangladesh in 2011 but was postponed at the last minute due to objections by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banarjee.
The Teesta water is crucial for Bangladesh, especially in the leanest period from December to March when the water flow often temporarily comes down to less than 1,000 cusecs from 5,000 cusecs every year.

The High Commissioner said no new formula will be acceptable to Bangladesh to ink the pact as its position on it is "non-negotiable".

Asked about illegal immigration from Bangladesh to India's North Eastern states, he said when enclaves residents were asked to choose citizenship, 95 per cent of them preferred to stay in Bangladesh and only five per cent chose India.
He said the quality of life on both sides of border is now mostly equal as human resource indicators in his country have improved vastly.
Ali felt the problem of illegal immigration was "irrelevant" as living standards in both countries is now "comparable" and that political parties try keep alive the issue.
Pushing for improved connectivity between the two countries, he said Bangladesh wants direct road links to West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura.

He said his country was ready for joint venture with India in sectors like hyderopower, pharma and food processing.
He also said that his country was looking for joint ventures in energy sector which will help in Bangladesh's economic integration with India.
On the Rohingya issue, he said it is getting complicated and Myanmar must settle it and give them autonomy.
"Hope India and other countries put pressure on Myanmar to get them settled in their own country," he said adding the "Rohingya issue has also been an issue between India and Myanmar. We can surely cooperate and jointly put pressure on Myanmar government.