Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said failure to reach Teesta water sharing agreement remains the sole point of ‘dissatisfaction’ in the bilateral cooperation between her country and India in the last nine years of her rule.

Hasina will face elections in December when her second term comes to an end.

She was talking to Indian media persons visiting Dhaka as part of the Bangladesh-India Media Dialogue organised by the Institute of Conflict, Law & Development Studies.

Hasina said she expected the Teesta logjam to be resolved. “But Didi (Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal) didn't give water, ” she said.

Hasina, however, said she is fully aware that the India government cannot resolve the dispute till the State government agrees to it.

Indian initiative

During her tenure, the government signed over 100 agreements with India, including the first ever agreements in the defence sector.

Hasina said if she returns to power implementing the agreements would be a priority.

Asked about the slow pace of implementation of projects under the $7.5-billion Indian line of credit; she said problems notwithstanding, she was “satisfied” with the progress so far.

Of the three lines of credit (over and above the aids) offered so far, 75-80 per cent of the first LOC of $1 billion is utilised. Finalisation of projects under $2-billion second line is at an advanced stage.

“There is slight delay. But either side is responsible for it,” the Prime Minister said.

China factor

On increasing flow of funds to Bangladesh from China, at a time when India-China rivalry was intensifying, she said: “India is our next-door neighbour. So you (India) must not worry.”

China offered $24-billion line of credit and grabbed large amount of contracts, including a series of power plants. Beijing, which has strong influence over Bangladesh army, is also keen to open a deep sea port.

“As a nation, we are open to investments irrespective of its source. We put a priority in maintaining good relations with neighbours. At the same time India should also maintain good relations with other neighbours,” the Prime Minister said.

It was not clarified if her comment is an oblique reference to India-China relationship.

Rohingya issue

Hasina is keen that India exerts pressure on Myanmar to take Rohingya refugees back, as keeping them for long may have many repercussions, including humanitarian crisis.

“The rainy season is coming. With so many women and children in the camps, and more children added everyday, we have to make special provisions,” she said.

Hasina insisted that her government made every arrangement to identify the Rohingya refugees as and when they arrived.

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