Bangladesh's ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has lauded the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its massive victory in West Bengal while blaming the outgoing Chief Minister for stalling the Teesta water-sharing pact between Dhaka and New Delhi. The BNP has also hoped for the continuation of peaceful ties between the two nations.
BNP Information Secretary Azizul Baree Helal praised the BJP’s performance under Suvendu Adhikari and told ANI that the result could help strengthen ties between West Bengal and Bangladesh.
Helal expressed hope that the political change in West Bengal could pave the way for progress on the Teesta water-sharing agreement, an issue pending for years. He alleged that the previous Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee had been the main obstacle to the deal.
"Previously, we saw that Mamata Banerjee was actually the impediment to establishing the Teesta Barrage. Now, in my opinion, since the BJP won the election... the Teesta Barrage agreement, which was very much desired by the Bangladesh government and the Modi government, could be helped by Suvendu," he told ANI.
The Teesta water-sharing pact is a long-pending agreement between India and Bangladesh on sharing the waters of the Teesta river, which flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh. Bangladesh has long sought the pact, arguing that the Teesta water is crucial for irrigation and livelihoods in its northern districts.
A draft interim agreement was finalised in 2011, under which India was expected to get 42.5% of the Teesta’s water and Bangladesh 37.5% during the lean season from December to March, while 20% was to be kept for environmental flow. However, the deal was not signed after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed it, citing water scarcity concerns in north Bengal.
