Staff Reporter :
Pankaj Saran, High Commissioner of India in Dhaka, said on Thursday that Bangladesh and India should wait for a mutually acceptable solution to Teesta water sharing issue in order to survive and prosper together.
He also said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, whenever it takes place, will ‘contribute positively’ to Bangladesh-India relations.
Pankaj Saran came up with these views while he was addressing a function organized by Diplomatic Correspondent Association of Bangladesh [DCAB] at the National Press Club in the city.
“I think that we have to wait for a mutual and acceptable of both countries,” Pankaj Saran said. About the possible visit of Narendra Modi, he said: “Indian Prime Minister has already accepted the invitation and he is ‘keen’ to visit Bangladesh. I’m hopeful that whenever such a visit takes place, it’ll contribute positively to this relationship. At present, the two countries are trying to find mutually convenient date for his visit to Bangladesh.” Saran also said that Prime Minister Modi invited his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina to visit India. “That invitation has also been accepted. So, all these high-level visits are under discussions and timeframes are also under discussions.” About possible agreement on Teesta, the Indian diplomat said, any formula and any draft should have ‘burden sharing, equity and consensus.’ “Once the solution arrives, it’ll become known to everyone of us that on what basis the solution has come,” he said.
Saran said, India is committed to Teesta and implementation of Land Boundary Agreement [LBA], and they are working on completing their internal procedures at the earliest.
On water sharing issues, he said, “Water is a major challenge for both of our countries as well as for this entire region. We have to find ways to manage this precious resource, to share it and to make the best possible use of what we have.”
When asked to evaluate the last three months’ political situation in Bangladesh, Saran said India does not evaluate situations in other countries. “We’re busy with our own country and do not evaluate situations in other countries. India doesn’t interfere in anyone’s internal matter.”
“India is committed to playing its role in ensuring that Bangladesh and India grow and prosper together, in an atmosphere of peace, stability and mutual security and mutual benefit. Our two countries are united by geography, history and culture. We have to survive and prosper together,” he said.
Replying to a question, he said, Indian mission in Dhaka does not control its visa system “at all”, High Commissioner Pankaj Saran has said on the heels of allegation of difficulties in getting appointment dates for visa.
“The entire system is being administered and controlled and run from New Delhi. It is a global system and we have conveyed the specific problems for Bangladesh to our headquarters,” he said.
Saran said both the countries should make further progress in sub-regional and regional cooperation, and work together on global issues. “Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal met in February to finalise a Motor Vehicles Agreement, and the same four countries held the second round of discussions on power/hydropower cooperation, trade, transit and connectivity,” he said.
DCAB President Masud Karim and General Secretary Bashir Ahmed were also present at the event.
