No breakthrough on Teesta

We have already editorially welcomed Prime Minister Modi and will comment again after the visit is over. Today we are focusing on the hope about Teesta that the Paschim Banga Chief Minister's coming along with the Indian PM generated.

Mamata Banerjee's assurance in February this year, during her last visit, that we should have faith in her on Teesta water sharing deal was a very positive signal for us that a seemingly intractable problem was going to be resolved at last. We are disappointed that we heard nothing from her in this regard till going to press. The resolution seems not likely soon, primarily because of Paschim Banga's politics.

As it is, Paschim Banga can only utilise twenty five percent of the water due to lack of irrigational infrastructure. And it should take up on the center's offer of help to develop the state's capacity for enhanced utilisation of Teesta water. The deleterious effect of the increased reduction of flow during the peak of lean time is telling on northern Bangladesh which in turn impacts the overall development of the country. 

We did not expect the deal to come through on this visit but had certainly hoped for some definite progress in this regard. While the Indian PM's confidence about a fair solution on Teesta is heartening it is predicated on the support of Paschim Banga. Thus, our call to Paschim Banga Chief Minister -- rise above petty party politics for the sake of good neighbourliness. That is the least Bangladesh can expect from a neighbour towards which it has tremendous goodwill to move towards greater cooperation.