Mamata to accompany Modi in Dhaka visit

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will accompany Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two-day visit to Bangladesh from June 6, raising hopes of the two countries – clinching the much-awaited Teesta river water-sharing deal.

"The chief minister will go along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Bangladesh next month. We hope this visit will strengthen relations between the two Bengals (West Bengal and Bangladesh) and also between the two countries," West Bengal Education and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha Chatterjee said in Kolkata today.

Asked if Mamata has given her consent to the Teesta water-sharing treaty, Chatterjee said, "I am not aware of it and I cannot comment on this matter."

This will be Mamata Banerjee's second visit to Dhaka this year. In February, she along with a delegation of state government officials and cultural personalities had visited Dhaka for three days on the occasion of 'Bhasha Divas' (Ekushey February) and held talks with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Mamata had at that time assured Hasina about the Teesta deal by saying "have faith in me."    

The Teesta deal could not be signed in September 2011 when the then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had undertaken his maiden visit to Dhaka as Mamata had backed out of his entourage to the Bangladesh capital at the eleventh hour opposing the deal.

Observers in India say the fact that Mamata is accompanying Modi to Dhaka has considerable significance.