At last dialogue started to settle the Teesta impasse. In February 2015, on her three day visit to Dhaka Ms. Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal promised the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina to play a “ positive role” in resolving the long pending Teesta water sharing issue keeping the interests of India and Bangladesh in mind. Four Years ago in September 2011 Bangladesh and India were set to ink the Teesta Agreement during the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit. But Mamata Banerjee precluded herself from this entourage at the last moment and spoiled the plan. She opposed the treaty on the ground that it would adversely affect entire North Bengal farming. The Teesta River originated from Sikkim flows through Northern part of West Bengal before entering Bangladesh. Since 2011, Teesta water did not rise a drop but Banerjee changed her stance. The question is what prompted her to change her mind?
Since last year Mamata Banerjee came under huge pressure over Saradha Ponzi (financial) scam and the terror patronage allegations following Khagragarh Bomb Blast on 2nd Oct, 2014. According to the reports prepared by the National Security Agency (NIA) Ahmed Hassan Imran, Rajya Sabha MP of Trinamool Congress had alleged links with top leaders of Jama’at ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). The Bangladesh government also set up a panel to probe it and demanded dossier from Delhi. So invitation from Dhaka to attend the Bhasa Diwas (The Language Day) programme was readily accepted by the Chief Minister of West Bengal.
Secondly, Mamata Banerjee never wanted Manmohan Singh to take away the credit of Teesta settlement. She aspired to be the key person of Teesta solution. The former Chief Minister of West Bengal Jyoti Basu’s legendary role is still remembered with the historical Ganges Water sharing treaty between India and Bangladesh. History never wants to lose the chance to repeat itself.
Last but not the least, the ‘ice breaking” tour of Mamata Banerjee to Dhaka was a result of hard work of Delhi diplomats of the Narendra Modi government. India needs to reach an “internal consensus” on Teesta deal. If everything goes well, Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India will visit Dhaka in the last week of March and before that Modi has to take the final call on the formalisation of the Teesta agreement.
Teesta water is crucial both for agricultural lands in Northern part of West Bengal and for North West Bangladesh. The main problem in sharing water in Teesta is during the lean period. Bangladesh expects fifty percent of water downstream which is unacceptable to Mamata Banerjee. West Bengal wants to allow not more than twenty five percent of water to go down stream. So a mutually beneficial and acceptable solution needs to be found out.
The Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina gifted a miniature boat to Mamata Banerjee and said, Pani jeno ase, nouka jeno vase (Let there be enough water so that the boat can sail smoothly). Mamata replied, “Panir byabostha hobe” (water would be arranged). We have to wait till March to see how the boat sails on the Teesta.
