The foreign minister, Dipu Moni, is apparently returning home ‘empty-handed’ from Delhi ahead of the crucial Bangladesh election, revealed
the Kolkata-based Bangla daily Anandabazar Patrika.
Worried over her futile Delhi tour, the foreign minister Dipu Moni has admitted that it will surely be frustrating if two pressing issues – Teesta and land boundary deals — are not signed with India.
‘If the deals are not signed, it will surely be frustrating and the consequences might fall on the country,’ she said while responding to a question after meetings with Indian top leaders, reports Anandabazar Patrika on Saturday.
The foreign minister was asked whether there will be any impact on the next election in Bangladesh if these two issues remained unsettled.
Dipu Moni, however, said people will understand and they have seen that the previous governments did not take any initiative to settle the issues. ‘These are not today’s issues. These have remained pending for decades.’
She said the present government led by Sheikh Hasina has brought the issues at final stage, and expressed her hope that all will understand that.
Dipu Moni had also talks with Indian external affairs minister Salman Khurshid at dinner where they also discussed the Teesta and LBA issues.
She said in democracy there are different opinions on a particular issue. ‘We have to leave aside minor interests for the sake of greater national interests. I do hope, Indian elected representatives will do that.’
The Bangla daily also claimed that Dhaka knows well that the key to passing the LBA in Indian parliament is in BJP’s hand.
It said though Dipu Moni had a lengthy meeting with BJP leader Arun Jaitley and the BJP leader did not give any categorical assurance that his party would support this agreement.
‘But the ice did not melt. Jaitley did not give positive feedback to Dipu Moni’s request. He only says he will take the decision in consultation with party leaders,’ the newspaper report said.
It also said there was no outcome on the Teesta water sharing deal during the meeting with the Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh.
Sources said Dipu Moni wanted to know whether Indian parliament will be able to pass a constitutional amendment bill (on LBA) in its session, beginning Monday.
The bill, if passed, will put the final seal of approval on the settlement negotiated by the two countries during the tenure of the Awami League led by the prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
The introduction of the bill, which requires two-thirds of members present to vote in favour, therefore needs bipartisan support.
It was stalled in the Rajya Sabha during the last session following Opposition protests.
At a public engagement in New Delhi, Dipu Moni expressed Bangladesh’s desire to settle the outstanding land boundary issues with India and said it would be an election issue in her country along with the Teesta Treaty, which could not be signed due to opposition from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
-With UNB/New Age input
