Teesta water sharing still at assurance level: Shahriar

State Minister Shahriar Alam addressing a press conference at the Bangladesh House after the Dhaka-Delhi talks on Tuesday.

New Delhi, Sept 6 - India has again assured Bangladesh of resolving the issue of Teesta water sharing, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam said on Tuesday.

“We are still at the assurance level. We believe that the commitment that India gave us will be delivered, though it may take time,” he said.

The state minister said this at a press briefing held at Bangladesh House here after bilateral talks between visiting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

He, however, said that the big achievement of this tour of the PM Hasina has been the agreement on the withdrawal of water from bordering Kushiyara River by Bangladesh.

This was among the seven MoUs signed between the two countries on the second day of Hasina's four-day official visit to India on Tuesday.

Shahriar, while responding to a question, mentioned that India has given due importance to the premier’s current tour.

He daid that going through Delhi's streets one will see portraits of Bangladesh prime minister and feel the warmth of friendship between the two countries.

He also lauded the Indian media’s coverage on the visit.

During the bilateral talks, he said, both the leaders discussed about connectivity, cooperation on energy and trade and water sharing.  

“Every issue was discussed with open mind during the bilateral talks. Both sides believe that every issue would be solved through discussions,” he added.

Shahriar said that  Modi highly praised Bangladesh’s unprecedented development under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

Shahriar quoted Modi as saying that Bangladesh prime minister has taken care of her country’s 17 crore people with motherly affection during the COVID-19 pandemic. - UNB