Agartala, Jul 27, 2012 : Bangladesh is prepared to give New Delhi a reasonable period of time to carry out "internal consultations" on the contentious Teesta river water sharing issue and also for solution to the problem of exchanging enclaves. Announcing this in an interaction with the media visiting Bangladesh foreign secretary Mohammed Mizarul Quayes said that Teesta water sharing issue and execution of Land Boundary Agreement, particularly on the use of enclaves on the both sides of the border, are currently the two main vague issues between Bangladesh and India. He however expected both the issues to be resolved 'in the near future' through discussion between the two countries.
The Teesta accord could not be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in September last year due to opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Teesta originates from Sikkim, flows through north Bengal before entering Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers.
Quayes said the two neighbouring countries are now actively engaged in five sectors that include trade and business, connectivity, education, tourism and cultural exchanges.
"Overcoming the initial hiccups, most of the provisions of the India-Bangladesh agreements, including issues relating to trade and business and security, are being implemented with highest priorities," the Bangladesh foreign secretary said.
After holding a day-long consultation with Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai in New Delhi on July 24, the Bangladesh foreign secretary, accompanied by nine senior officials, is now visiting Assam and Tripura.
In Assam capital Dispur, he met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi while in Agartala he met Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and discussed bilateral issues.
Quayes said "Dhaka wants to implement all the pending issues between the two countries on a fast track basis. Frequent visits of the officials of the two countries are aimed to untie the hurdles and to gather opinions for the best possible utilization of the mutual benefits."
He said the Bangladesh government has already allowed India to use the Chittagong international port and a study is on how to ferry the goods to and fro India beyond this sea port.
"India would soon send a team of officials in Bangladesh to conduct a feasibility study to use the Ashuganj river to transport goods between northeast India and the rest of the country and abroad" Mizanur Quayes said. He added that an extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh was scheduled to be signed soon.
"It (the signing of extradition treaty) is now in a final stage. Dhaka and New Delhi have already exchanged the drafts of the agreement. An Indian official team will soon go to Dhaka to talk with the Bangladeshi officials in this regard," Quayes added. He hoped that the signing of the treat would have a positive effect on bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.
The proposed treaty will help India deal with northeastern militants hiding or arrested in Bangladesh. They include Anup Chetia, general secretary of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom. Chetia has been in a Dhaka jail since his arrest in 1997.
"Pending the much talked Teesta water sharing issue, Bangladesh and India are now talking on basin wise water management for the benefit of the two neighbours," he added.
The Tripura chief minister during the meeting with Quayes proposed to share the experience on agriculture, fishery and their research and study.
It was decided that a team of officials from agriculture and fishery departments would soon go to Bangladesh and similar team would visit Tripura shortly to share their experience on agriculture and fish farming.
The Teesta accord could not be signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka in September last year due to opposition from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The Teesta originates from Sikkim, flows through north Bengal before entering Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers.
Quayes said the two neighbouring countries are now actively engaged in five sectors that include trade and business, connectivity, education, tourism and cultural exchanges.
"Overcoming the initial hiccups, most of the provisions of the India-Bangladesh agreements, including issues relating to trade and business and security, are being implemented with highest priorities," the Bangladesh foreign secretary said.
After holding a day-long consultation with Indian Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai in New Delhi on July 24, the Bangladesh foreign secretary, accompanied by nine senior officials, is now visiting Assam and Tripura.
In Assam capital Dispur, he met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi while in Agartala he met Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar and discussed bilateral issues.
Quayes said "Dhaka wants to implement all the pending issues between the two countries on a fast track basis. Frequent visits of the officials of the two countries are aimed to untie the hurdles and to gather opinions for the best possible utilization of the mutual benefits."
He said the Bangladesh government has already allowed India to use the Chittagong international port and a study is on how to ferry the goods to and fro India beyond this sea port.
"India would soon send a team of officials in Bangladesh to conduct a feasibility study to use the Ashuganj river to transport goods between northeast India and the rest of the country and abroad" Mizanur Quayes said. He added that an extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh was scheduled to be signed soon.
"It (the signing of extradition treaty) is now in a final stage. Dhaka and New Delhi have already exchanged the drafts of the agreement. An Indian official team will soon go to Dhaka to talk with the Bangladeshi officials in this regard," Quayes added. He hoped that the signing of the treat would have a positive effect on bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh.
The proposed treaty will help India deal with northeastern militants hiding or arrested in Bangladesh. They include Anup Chetia, general secretary of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom. Chetia has been in a Dhaka jail since his arrest in 1997.
"Pending the much talked Teesta water sharing issue, Bangladesh and India are now talking on basin wise water management for the benefit of the two neighbours," he added.
The Tripura chief minister during the meeting with Quayes proposed to share the experience on agriculture, fishery and their research and study.
It was decided that a team of officials from agriculture and fishery departments would soon go to Bangladesh and similar team would visit Tripura shortly to share their experience on agriculture and fish farming.
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