Dhaka : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday asked Bangladesh during her visit to the neighbouring country to have faith in her to resolve the Teesta water-sharing dispute.
“I am a small person, a down-to-earth person. From my side, I have solved the LBA (land boundary agreement) problem. Have faith in (me to resolve) Teesta too,” Banerjee said, according to a bdnews24.com report.
The Teesta water sharing pact has been put on hold after the West Bengal chief minister’s strong opposition, over fears that the treaty could spell disaster for the northern part of her state.
In September 2011, Banerjee had embarrassed then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh by pulling out of the prime minister-led delegation to Bangladesh over the water sharing agreement, forcing India to drop it from the agenda.
On the land boundary agreement, Banerjee had emphasised on a rehabilitation package for the enclave dwellers and noted that she was very positive about the issue being settled this time around.
Once the land boundary agreement (LBA) is passed, India will cede 111 enclaves totally measuring 17,160 acres to Bangladesh and receive 51 enclaves covering 7,110 acres. More than 51,000 people reside in these enclaves.
During her three-day trip to the neighbouring nation that began Thursday, Banerjee will meet Bangladesh President Mohammad Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.