PM says  Teesta water sharing  signing very soon

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said Indian Premier Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Bangladesh assured of signing the deal on Teesta water sharing with Bangladesh soon and also pledged to bring down the border killings to zero.

"The Indian Prime Minister has given priority to the human aspects of the issue of water sharing of the common rivers and put it in place above politics along with assurance of accomplishing the deal on Teesta water sharing as soon as possible," she said.

The Leader of the House disclosed this in reply to a scripted query raised by treasury bench member Farhad Hossain (Meherpur-1) during her question-answer session in the House.

The Prime Minister also said Narendra Modi agreed to further raise the cooperation between the two countries in power and energy sector including exporting more electricity to Bangladesh from India.

During the visit of Narendra Modi and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, she said, a very fruitful bilateral discussion took place between the two neighboring countries. "Our talks were constructive and we understood the mutual concern and priority places," she said.

The Leader of the House also said that open discussion on all issues of bilateral aspects was held with main focus on security, border management, power and energy, inter-connectivity, sub-regional cooperation, water sharing of common rivers including the Teesta, water resources management, trade, commerce and investment, development cooperation and international and regional cooperation, public communication and cultural cooperation.

"The longstanding multiple problems and human aspects of the enclave people are going to be solved permanently through the ratification of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol," she said.

The Prime Minister said Indian President Pranab Mukherjee signed the "Instrument of Ratification" to this effect on May 25. "I inked the "Instrument of Ratification" on June 25 this year," she said adding, "We have identified the issues to implement the landmark LBA and fixed a timeframe in this regard."

The Leader of the House said the two leaders reiterated their commitment to keep the border in peace and maintain mutual cooperation. "We are pledge-bound about the zero tolerance policy against terrorism and militancy," she said.

The Prime Minister said she and the Indian premier agreed that inter-connectivity is very crucial for the development of the region, not for only the two countries. Bangladesh and India have inked 22 deals and MoUs, related to mutual cooperation of the two countries, she also said.

The deals and MoUs include economic cooperation, trade and investment, security, infrastructural development, education, science, information technology and culture. The more expanded area of cooperation is a manifestation of deepened and widened relations between the two next-door neighbours, Sheikh Hasina said.