Teesta water treaty a question of when, not if, feels Bangladesh

DHAKA: There are no more questions on the pending Teesta water accord between India and Bangladesh to be encountered on the streets or in power circles here since the success of the Land Boundary Agreement signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden visit to Dhaka last May.
About a year later, Dhaka seems confident of the Teesta water sharing treaty coming through and is ready to wait out the time that it takes for the finalization of the deal.
That is a huge change in the mood in Bangladesh from 2012, when the agreement fell through with West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee refusing to ink the pact that would have allowed sharing of the water that flows out of her state.
Bangladesh's foreign minister of state Shahriyar Alam replied with ease to a question from TOI on when the treaty is expected by saying, "It will be done within a timeframe that is meaningful for both the sides," while interacting with international journalists in Dhaka last Wednesday. He reflected the hope that Bangladesh holds from the crucial bilateral treaty after the assurance that PM Modi gave Sheikh Hasina, with Banerjee by his side last year.
The ground work is moving ahead and the timing of the agreement will be a political decision, government sources on both sides confirmed. They also agree that it will depend on two crucial events - the assembly elections in West Bengal getting over by May 19 and the reciprocal visit of Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina to New Delhi, awaited later this year.
The only question that has been coming up in Bangladesh — from politicians, journalists, bureaucrats and the common man — is about the results that the Bengal elections will throw up.
While Dhaka is certain that Mamata Banerjee is unlikely to stall the Teesta agreement any longer if she is back as chief minister, the neighbouring nation is also not nervous about a regime change, as the Left Front government under Buddha- deb Bhattacharya had given its thumbs up to the deal. Hence, if a Left-led government replaces Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, the status of the water sharing pact will not alter, feel government sources in Bangladesh.
The reason for Dhaka's optimism stems also from headway in other bilateral issues following Modi's visit. "We are working very closely with India and Myanmar to ensure the borders are secured. Also, settlement of maritime boundaries with the two countries has helped," Alam said.