BSS, Kathmandu :
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi here yesterday said he is making strong efforts to resolve the issues of Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and Teesta water sharing with Bangladesh quickly.
He said this during a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Crowne Plaza Kathmandu on the sidelines of the 18th SAARC Summit here yesterday afternoon.
After the meeting, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wanted to know the progress of the LBA and Teesta water sharing issue.
In reply, the Indian Prime Minister said he is making strong efforts to resolve the two pending issues with Bangladesh quickly. “A consensus about the issues is being built in India,” he said.
Modi also expressed his firm optimism to resolve these crucial issues with Bangladesh.
He said a report on LBA will be submitted very shortly and it would be accepted. About the Teesta water sharing issue, he said discussion is underway to this end.
The foreign secretary said the two leaders reiterated their firm commitment to work together to fight terrorism.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali later at a press conference said during the meeting with Bangladesh
counterpart Sheikh Hasina, the Indian Prime Minister said resolving the issues of LBA and Teesta is in his government’s active consideration.
About the much-awaited LBA, the foreign minister said a joint parliamentary standing committee comprising Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha will submit its report.
The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will separately consider the agreement and then it will be accepted.
Ali said the Indian premier informed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that his government has invited a high-powered ministerial delegation at the inaugural function of the second unit of Palatana Power Plant in Tripura.
“We have accepted the invitation in this regard,” the foreign minister said. During the meeting, he said, the two leaders agreed to work together for overall development of entire South Asia by uniting respective capability of the countries of the region. Ali said the Indian Prime Minister reiterated his interest to visit Bangladesh soon.
