Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, gestures as Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina looks on as he arrives at the Prime Minister's Office in Dhaka on June 6, 2015 AFPWhen asked about this sudden change of plans, no government high official was willing to make any comments on record. However, it was confirmed that the tour has been delayed with the consent of important officials from both sides.Also Read- PM postpones visit to India
A Prime Minister's Office (PMO) source and three Awami League policymakers, seeking anonymity, also disclosed that the Teesta Water Treaty issue requires the consent of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who currently takes an opposing stance to the Indian central government over the demonetisation issue. She has overtly expressed her dissatisfaction and thus, keeping everything in mind, the Bangladesh administration realised that it is not a suitable time to discuss the Teesta issue.
In this photograph released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) on June 6, 2015 Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina meet in Dhaka on June 6, 2015 AFPThere has been no official comment from the government regarding the postponement of the India visit.
“We still are not aware why the visit was postponed,” the prime minister's press secretary, Ihsanul Karim, told the Bangla Tribune.
On October 16, Hasina and Modi held a bilateral meeting in Goa at which both gave assurances that Bangladesh and India will “remain together for the sake of development.”
At the invitation of Hasina, Modi visited Bangladesh on June 6-7 last year. During the visit, Hasina asked Modi for an immediate implementation of the interim deal on sharing the water of Teesta as agreed upon by both governments in January 2011, according to a joint declaration.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, talks to Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a signing ceremony on June 6, 2015 in Dhaka AFPModi, at that time, conveyed that deliberations are under way involving all stakeholders with regard to implementation of the interim agreements on sharing of waters of Teesta and Feni as soon as possible.
The two prime ministers noted that discussions on various aspects relating to the sharing of water from the Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar rivers were taking place at technical levels under the Joint Rivers Commission, and asked the officials concerned to take expeditious action to implement the sharing arrangements as soon as possible.
During her Dhaka visit in February last year, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged Bangladesh to “have confidence” in her about signing of the Teesta Water Sharing deal.