THE TEESTA TUSSLE

The vexed issue of sharing the waters of the Teesta river between India and Bangladesh has always been a hot topic during polls for over a decade, especially in the eastern neighbour.

- Romita Datta

Despite that, it has defied resolution. Now, possibly the most contentious issue between the two nations has again assumed significance in a trifecta of polls: Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has a general election to face in 2023 and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi has the Lok Sabha polls to contend with in 2024. Between them stands the high-octane figure of West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who is gearing up for the 2023 panchayat elections, besides the general election.

At the end of her four-day trip to India from September 5 to 8, the Bangladesh PM took home seven MoUs on areas like railways, energy, science and technology, media and sharing of waters of the less contentious Kushiyara river flowing through Assam and Bangladesh, which would benefit lower Assam and Sylhet (in Bangladesh). However, not a word flowed on the Teesta agreement. Even while tip-toeing on the Teesta issue during formal declarations, in an interview to a private channel, Hasina made no bones about how India must 'show generosity.