Thaindian News

Tin Bigha (West Bengal), Oct 19 (IANS) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wednesday visited this corridor linking two Bangladeshi enclaves, Dahagram and Angorpota, and hoped the pending Teesta water sharing treaty and swapping of enclaves between the two countries would be completed soon.

Accompanied by former Bangladesh president H.M. Ershad, senior ministers and officials, Hasina arrived at the corridor near the Indo-Bangla border in Cooch Behar district after a visit to the two enclaves situated in Indian territory in the morning.

Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Minister of State for Home Jitin Prasada welcomed the Bangladesh prime minister here.

Sheikh Hasina was on a tour to the two enclaves to inaugurate some development programmes and also declare the corridor open round the clock as per an agreement signed during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s trip to Bangladesh next month.

Describing India as a friendly country, she said the two neighbours had good relations. “I hope the Teesta deal will be signed soon”.

Queried about the enclaves, Hasina said: “We are hopeful on this issue also. I hope it (enclave exchange) will start soon.”

The corridor gate was earlier kept shut after 6 p.m. daily but is now open round-the-clock, following signing of a protocol during Singh’s visit, as part of the historic land boundary agreement between the two countries.

The Teesta treaty was stalled after a miffed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee withdrew from the trip to Bangladesh with the prime minister, in protest against the proposed pact giving a greater share to the neighbouring nation than earlier agreed upon by the central and state governments.

The deadlock over the treaty partly took the shine off Manmohan Singh’s trip. Bangladesh hit back by refusing to exchange letters of intent on providing transit facilities to each other.