If Bangladesh and India are to forge a more equitable friendship, three existing bilateral issues need to be addressed.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry today said it did not have any immediate response about Bangladesh issuing note verbale to the neighbouring country seeking information over media reports on West Bengal digging two more canals to divert Teesta waters

Bangladesh and India will soon start negotiating on a bilateral comprehensive economic partnership agreement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today (September 6, 2022).

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has put on India the onus of resolving the issue of water-sharing of common trans-border rivers, including the Teesta.

Although Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s state visit to India next week was officially announced today by the Indian External Affairs Ministry, there is no confirmation to speculations if West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee will be invited to join the delegation-level talks between India and Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has reiterated the importance of signing the Teesta water sharing agreement with India, saying it is “unfortunate” and “a shame” that the deal remains stuck for 11 years.

On the last week of May 2018, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that the signing of an agreement on sharing Teesta water would not be possible without taking West Bengal on board. She said this at a press conference in New Delhi, according to a video record published on the external affairs ministry website.

India yesterday held out hopes of the Teesta river water-sharing deal with Bangladesh and said not being able to reach the agreement cannot yet be termed a “failure” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's four-year rule as it still had one more year in office.