Mamata still has a chance to repair West Bengals relations with Bangladesh,and boost Indias
Written by The Indian Express
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Mamata still has a chance to repair West Bengals relations with Bangladesh,and boost Indias
Before the advent of political correctness,Tripura used to be called,informally,Little Bengal. As recently as 1971,Tripura had played an important strategic role in Bangladeshs liberation. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas recent trip to Tripura,with a large business delegation,was meant to revive the old ties and build new ones. In the process,she also received the Tripura Central Universitys first honorary D Litt. However,this visit may acquire an added significance,in contrast to her decision to not attend the convocation ceremony of the University of Calcutta. The official reason,given by West Bengal Governor M.K. Narayanan,is that Hasina is busy.
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While theres no evidence to contradict that,Hasinas change of plans is a good time to reflect on the damage Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees last-minute backing out of the Teesta water treaty last year may have done to bilateral ties. The CPM has already accused Banerjee of failing to keep a cordial relationship with Bangladesh,even as her government insists theres no adverse fallout of that failure on the water treaty. Be that as it may,Banerjees refusal then did kill a splendid opportunity for India to bring bilateral ties to the next logical level. That treaty is politically and economically important not only for Hasina who has been outspokenly friendly with India but also for India to secure transit rights through Bangladesh,which would cut time and distance from the Indian mainland to the Northeast.
So where Tripura CM Manik Sarkar has done an excellent job,Mamata Banerjee is yet to begin undoing last Septembers failure. There may not be much time left. She must begin now. At a time when CMs of border states are actively helping Indias neighbourly relations,Banerjee has no excuse vis-a-vis a country with which her state shares the added advantage of a common language and culture,much more than Tripura.
