Dipu Moni urges Mamata to reconsider Teesta decision

LONDON: Relations between India and Bangladesh have never been better than at present, according to Bangladeshi foreign minister, Dr Dipu Moni. But she also hinted that "the gains" could be jeopardised if the two countries don't sign an agreement to share the waters of the Teesta river, which flows from North Bengal to Bangladesh.
Moni is on a visit to Britain.In a wide-ranging conversation, she told TOI that there was "a small window" to conclude a pact and urged West Bengal's chief minister Mamata Banerjee to reconsider her objection to the deal. The latter had withdrawn from accompanying prime minister Manmohan Singh on a visit to Dhaka in September on the grounds that sharing the Teesta water with Bangladesh would be against the interests of West Bengal.
Meanwhile, a senior Bangladeshi official, who requested not to be identified, maintained that it was incorrect to say Mamata had not been consulted in advance regarding the proposed deal. Rather, she had agreed to it but then later changed her mind.
Referring to the draft contract worked out between India and Bangladesh,which Mamata scuttled, much to the embarrassment of the Prime Minister, Moni claimed the deal had no mention of "cusecs or percentage of water" to be shared between the two nations. The document that had been prepared was only conceived as "an agreement in principle". It was supposed to be examined by "experts" who would have then suggested a fair and equitable split of the waters on a scientific basis.
The agreement failed to materialize during Singh's visit to Dhaka in September. And last month, Mamata appeared to alter her tune when receiving Moni in Kolkata. She was quoted as saying that she would be "happy if water can be shared with Bangladesh".
Moni stated there was a danger of anti-Indian elements in Bangladesh exploiting Mamata's refusal to approve the Teesta water treaty and thereby staging a return to power. She could not brush aside the fear that a Bangladesh National Party government would rollback the "closeness and understanding" that has been achieved between India and Bangladesh under the current Awami League administration.