Mamata a spoiler

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina waves to media as her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi watches on her arrival in New Delhi. The table and plot seemed to have turned. Once on silver screen there was a Shashi Kapoor-starred famous film 'Hasina Maan Jaegi' – in circa 2017 and in real life, Sheikh Hasina was herself on a mission to New Delhi – with rather curious eyes --- whether Mamata Banerjee will concede – "Kya Mamata Maan Jaegi".
The reference is certainly to the much awaited Teesta Water Share Treaty. Things moved, yet have not moved. As reports suggest – notwithstanding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's optimism – Mamata is yet to give in.
Mamata Banerjee has stuck to her ground and still maintained that the Teesta Water Treaty should not harm her state's interest. Mamata Banerjee held "special dinner" hosted by Bangladesh Prime Minister and explained her "limitations and difficulties" in accepting the Teesta River Water share pact in its present form, Trinamool sources said.
"For me state's interest needs to be protected," she reportedly told the visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister -- who faces an election next year and wherein Teesta Water Treaty is emerging as a major poll issue.
For Bangladesh, it's rice belt is largely dependent on Teesta and farmers of Rangpur, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat are affected by it while West Bengal that has about 123 km stretch of Teesta flowing through it and farmers in Jalpaiguri, South Dinajpur and Darjeeling districts are dependent on its water for irrigation.
Ms Banerjee's explanation to visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister has been that river Teesta does not have adequate water and thus there should be a survey to facilitate water from other rivers to be directed towards Bangladesh.

Apparently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarks earlier (on April 8, 2017): "I firmly believe that it is only my Government and Excellency Sheikh Hasina, your Government, that can and will find an early solution to Teesta Water Sharing" -- seemed to be seeking to build a pressure on the West Bengal Chief Minister.

For its part, Bangladesh is still resting hope on the assurance from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and see Modi's remarks as a "new policy statement". "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment during the joint statement of the two leaders is very important," Bangladesh foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said.
Back home, Ms Hasina's Awami League is under constant political attack from Khalida Zia's Nationalist Party and also Jamaat E Islami -- who feel Bangladesh paddy growers are suffering due to non-release of Teesta Water. Nevertheless, Bangladesh Prime Minister's visit to India also had another focused priority, and its importance cannot be ignored.

Honouring Indian martyrs

Hasina honours Indian martyrs of the Bangla war In a unique gesture expressing her nation's gratitude to Indian armed forces, on April 8, 2017, Bangladesh Prime Minister honoured family members of seven Martyred Indian soldiers of 1971 War of Independence for Bangladesh.
"I am greatly honoured to be present here at a very unique event to pay tribute to some very special Indian friends," Hasina said at a packed Zorawar Hall of Manekshaw Centre in the capital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking on the occasion, said the victory of 1971 War symbolised the win of those who believed in human rights and human values and against those who tried to suppress them. Among the family members of seven martyred Indian officers and personnel honoured by Ms Hasina in the presence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley were: Elbert Ekka of Bihar Regiment, Maj Anup Singh Gehlot of Dogra Regiment, Subedar Malkial Singh (Punjab Regiment), Hav Sangam Singh (Rajpur Rifles), Samir Das of Indian Navy, Squadron leader AB Samanta (Air Force), Mohini Ranjan Chakroborty (BSF).
It was a touching moment when Ms Hasina interacted with the family members of the martyred soldiers.
Among those who received the honour with moist eyes included wife of Elbert Ekka - Balimbini, sister Santosh for Maj Anup Singh Gehlot, wife of Subedar Malkial Singh Gurdev, Samant Kanwal wife of Hav Sangam Singh, Kavita Das sister-in-law of Naval officer Samir Das, Arundhati wife of Sqd Leader Samanta and brother Bishnu for BSF personnel Mohini Ranjan Chakroborty.

MPrime Ministers Modi and Hasina with then Major Ashok Tara & his wife. "We are grateful to the government and people of India for their extraordinary support of our War of Liberation. Many valiant soldiers of Indian Armed Forces had sacrificed their lives for the liberation of Bangladesh. We always remember with gratitude their contributions and sacrifices," Hasina said.
Hasina's visit was also marked this time with a meeting between her and Major Ashok Tara, the officer who protected Bangla PM's family members during turbulent days of 1971.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart from Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina lauded the exemplary bravery shown by Major Ashok Tara, during the 1971 war.
In his speech at the Manekshaw Centre, Prime Minister Modi spoke highly about Major Tara.
On December 17, 1971, Major Ashok Tara of 14 Guards rescued family members of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founder of Bangladesh.
PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina also took a group photo with Major Tara and his wife at the Manekshaw Centre.
The 1971 conflict in erstwhile East Pakistan saw one of the worst genocide in world history in the last century. An estimated 10 million Bengali refugees had fled to India, while thousands were internally displaced.

Vidyathi Kumar