Foreign minister: Does not matter if Teesta remains unresolved

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Tuesday said relations between Bangladesh and India were good and that it does not matter if the Teesta issue remains unresolved for now. Speaking at a press conference regarding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's much-talked-about visit to India from April 7-10, the foreign minister said: “There are a lot of issues to be discussed.” Regarding defence cooperation with India, the minister hinted that some MoUs, not agreements, will be signed, saying: “Everything will be publicised after the signing. Nothing will be kept secret,” after the prime minister meets with her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Expansion of trade relations, investment, connectivity, Padma (Ganges) Barrage construction, water sharing, border security, and defence cooperation will be highlighted during their meeting. The deals and MoUs that are expected to be signed includes – border haat establishment, information and telecast, atomic energy cooperation, science and technology, ICT, satellite and aeronautical research, geological science, defence cooperation, LoC, energy and power cooperation etc. In addition, 1,661 martyred Indian soldiers will be honoured posthumously for their contribution during the 1971 Liberation War of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with ministers including other high officials will attend a business event on April 10. A Bangladeshi business delegation will portray the business environment to the Indian business representatives at the event.