By IANS,
Kolkata : Bangladesh Friday said it was not worried about the current impasse on the Teesta water-sharing treaty, as India has assured it that hindrances present on its part would be removed to seal the accord.
“We feel there is no controversy. Because when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited Bangladesh, it was discussed, and India said it is willing and will take necessary steps. India has said the hindrances present on its part would be removed,” Bangladesh Commerce Minister Golam Mohammad Kader said on the sidelines of the annual general meeting of the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry here.
In September last year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had pulled out of the prime minister-led delegation to Bangladesh over the Teesta water sharing agreement, forcing India to drop it from the agenda.
The Bangladeshi minister said the country’s bilateral trade with India would not suffer because of the stalemate.
“We are not worried. Our trade with India would not suffer because of this,” he said.
Total trade volume between the two countries stood over $5 billion last year, where India’s share was around $4,740 million and Bangladesh’s $498 million.
On the Bangladesh government’s recent decision of not lifting the ban on export of Hilsa fish, Kader said it was planning to lift the ban as early as possible once production increased.
“The Hilsa production has declined (in Bangladesh). We are concerned. We are trying to lift the export ban as early as possible once production rises. We are keeping an eye on this. We are waiting for the production to improve,” the minister said.
Bangladesh Sunday lifted the ban on export of all kinds of fish except Hilsa. Lovers of the delicacy in India, particularly West Bengal, hoped the prohibition on the Hilsa too will be lifted — however, it was not to be.