Hours before leaving for Bangladesh on a three-day tour Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday ducked questions on the contentious Teesta Water sharing issue but added she had a host of things on agenda and look towards promoting business and other interests.
“No questions on Teesta” she told the media but quickly added she would “meet President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.” She would not however, dwell on the issues she was likely to discuss with the Bangladesh side.
Maintaining that her visit at the invitation of the Bangladesh Government would bolster the friendship between two countries Banerjee said “I will carry to Bangladesh the message of enhanced trade links and other exchanges between West Bengal and Bangladesh” adding “the visit will strengthen the ties between the two countries.”
The Chief Minister had earlier during the UPA-II regime pulled out of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s team at the last moment leading to suspensions of talks between the two sides on sharing of Teesta waters. Banerjee’s last-minute flip-flop had led to much criticism and mud-slinging between the State Government and the UPA-led Centre of which her Trinamool Congress was a partner.
Speaking to the media Banerjee on Thursday said “there should be stronger cultural ties between the two Bengals,” adding “Hope this trip will make our bond stronger.”