'Mamata's departure may facilitate Teesta accord'

A Bangladeshi minister today hoped the departure of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress from the UPA government at New Delhi would help in sealing the Teesta water-sharing treaty.

A Bangladeshi minister Wednesday hoped the departure of the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress from the UPA government at New Delhi would help in sealing the Teesta water-sharing treaty.

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"I hope so," Bangladesh's commerce minister Golam Mohammad Kader said when asked if the departure of Banerjee, who had expressed reservations over the treaty, would facilitate in finalising the accord.

Kader, however, was quick to add: "The Indian government has principally agreed to the treaty and it hardly matters who comes in or goes out of the government."

The minister said the governments of both the countries were eager to finalise the issue and the treaty will be sealed soon.

In September 2011, the Trinamool Congress chief had embarrassed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by pulling out of the PM-led delegation to Bangladesh over the Teesta water sharing agreement, forcing India to drop it from the agenda.

Kader, in the city to inaugurate a Bangladeshi saree fair, said such events would help the two countries to improve bilateral trade, which in turn will strengthen the mutual relationship.

The week-long Bangladesh Jamdani Mela was jointly inaugurated by Kader and West Bengal industries minister Partha Chatterjee. Left Front chairman Biman Bose was also present.