Mamata to accompany Manmohan to Dhaka

Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will be accompanying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh on September 6 and 7. The PM’s office sent an invitation to her on Wednesday and Mamata said she would accompany Singh. “A confirmation letter is being sent to the Prime Minister,” Mamata said. Last month, a Bangaldeshi delegation including Bangladesh deputy high commissioner Md Mustafizur Rahaman had met the CM at Writers’ Buildings and invited her to visit Bangaldesh, extending the invitation of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. The PM-level talks between Hasina and Singh are slated to resolve many outstanding disputes and intended at increasing cooperation between the two neighbours. Sources said as part of the Indian diplomacy, the Bengal CM is being included in the entourage of the PM, as she is known to be close to Hasina. The Bangladesh PM had sent greetings to Mamata immediately after she became the CM of Bengal in May. So, it is expected that Mamata Banerjee will play a crucial role in the summit between Hasina and Singh, as the two nations are going to discuss about water sharing and Bengal’s interest in water sharing is prime for India. So Mamata can play a lead role in resolving the muchawaited agreement on sharing the waters of Teesta and Bhargirathi. The treaty on Teesta water sharing is on the cards. Some other accords are also likely to be signed. In December 1996, the two nations had signed the water sharing treaty, but now both the nations want to review it. In end-July, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi had been to Bangladesh to receive the ‘Bangladesh Freedom Honor’ conferred to her mother-in-law, Indira Gandhi, for her contribution to the liberation war of Bangladesh in 1971. The PM’s trip will give importance to combating terrorism in the Subcontinent and increase trade relations between the two neighbours. The talks will also include foreign direct investment and better road links. The two premiers are also to discuss about maritime trade and settling border disputes other than setting up a co-ordination committee for sharing information between the law enforcing agencies of the two nations to stop terrorism and smuggling. The recent foreign secretary-level talks had also helped improve the relationship between the two neighbours. Officials said Mamata is keen on improving Indo-Bangladesh ties, as it is not at present at the desired level. She wants to improve ties between the two nations by increasing cultural exchange and for that she is in favour of using Tagore and Nazrul as a media. Currently both Bangladesh and India are observing 150th anniversary of Tagore. She wants to remove bureaucratic tangles for implementation of different bilateral initiatives. She is expected to take a key role in the discussion of the Indian enclaves, as she is very much sympathetic to their residents.