Landmark border agreements but no Teesta deal during PM visit
India and Bangladesh on Tuesday resolved a long-standing border problem, signing a historic agreement on demarcation of land boundary and exchange of 162 adversely-held enclaves, but their failure to sign any deal on sharing of Teesta and Feni river waters cast a shadow on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's maiden visit here.
However, Singh who met his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina, said the two countries had decided to continue discussions to reach "a mutually acceptable, fair and amicable arrangement for the sharing of the Teesta and Feni river waters".
Seeking to placate Dhaka, upset over the last-minute scrapping of the Teesta water-sharing pact, Singh announced a major trade sop allowing duty-free access with immediate effect to 61 items from Bangladesh to Indian market and permitting 24-hour access to Bangladeshis through Tin Bigha corridor.
Text and Images: PTI
Image: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina exchange files after signing an agreement in Dhaka on Tuesday.
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