India's external affairs minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indias-external-affairs-minister-s-jaishankar-arrives-in-bangladesh-367854">S Jaishankar</a> met his Bangladesh counterpart foreign minister&nbsp;A K Abdul Momen&nbsp;and asserted that "our comfort levels are so high there is no issue we can't discuss and resolve amicably".

Watch:

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"This visit has been transformational in our relationship. We also reviewed a lot of the progress in our relationship," Jaishankar said alongside the Bangladesh foreign minister.

"Teesta issue was discussed between India and&nbsp;Bangladesh," India's external affairs minister said while saying that "our position hasn't changed".

"If we can get connectivity right with Bangladesh, the whole bay of Bengal will change," Jaishankar said while mentioning Japan as the third country in partnership between India and&nbsp;Bangladesh projects.

"When I look at India-Bangladesh ties, I see enormous possibilities including economic and people-to-people connectivity. The idea is: be with friends, underline the importance and do preparations," he said.

"We discussed the deaths at the border as neighbours and friends should. Every death is regrettable, the problem is crime. Our shared objective should be - no crime and no death border," Jaishankar maintained.

India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar met his Bangladesh counterpart foreign minister A K Abdul Momen and asserted that "our comfort levels are so high there is no issue we can't discuss and resolve amicably".

India's external affairs minister S Jaishankar met his Bangladesh counterpart foreign minister A K Abdul Momen and asserted that "our comfort levels are so high there is no issue we can't discuss and resolve amicably". Watch: "This visit has been transformational in our relationship. We also reviewed a lot of the progress in our relationship," Jaishankar said alongside the Bangladesh foreign minister. "Teesta issue was discussed between India and Bangladesh," India's external affairs minister said while saying that "our position hasn't changed". "If we can get connectivity right with Bangladesh, the whole bay of Bengal will change," Jaishankar said while mentioning Japan as the third country in partnership between India and Bangladesh projects. "When I look at India-Bangladesh ties, I see enormous possibilities including economic and people-to-people connectivity. The idea is: be with friends, underline the importance and do preparations," he said. "We discussed the deaths at the border as neighbours and friends should. Every death is regrettable, the problem is crime. Our shared objective should be - no crime and no death border," Jaishankar maintained.

No issue we can't discuss and resolve amicably, says EAM Jaishankar in Bangladesh

The early implementation of the Teesta water pact and flood management were discussed during the &nbsp;secretary-level meeting of the water resources ministries of India and Bangladesh.&nbsp;

The Indian delegation was led by Pankaj Kumar, secretary, water resources while the Bangladeshi side was led by senior secretary Kabir Bin Anwar.

Bangladesh's side reiterated their request for an early conclusion of the pact with the Indian side expressing their sincere commitment and continued efforts in this regard.&nbsp;

Water is a state issue in India and elections in the Indian state of West Bengal that borders Bangladesh hold the key to full implementation of the pact. The elections to the West Bengal legislative assembly will take place between March 27 to April 29 with results to announced on May 2.

The Indian high commission in Dhaka in a release said, "both sides commended the close cooperation that exists between India and Bangladesh" on issues related to rivers.&nbsp;

India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers. During the almost day-long talks in Delhi, both sides agreed to expand cooperation to include mitigation of pollution, riverbank protection and basin management.&nbsp;

A joint technical working group will provide inputs on the matter. The next talks at the secretary level will be held in Dhaka.

The talks come ahead of PM Modi's Bangladesh visit later this month. It will be the first visit by PM Modi in more than a year.

PM Modi's&nbsp;last visit was in November 2019 since then due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian prime minister hasn't travelled abroad.

The early implementation of the Teesta water pact and flood management were discussed during the secretary-level meeting of the water resources ministries of India and Bangladesh.

The early implementation of the Teesta water pact and flood management were discussed during the secretary-level meeting of the water resources ministries of India and Bangladesh. The Indian delegation was led by Pankaj Kumar, secretary, water resources while the Bangladeshi side was led by senior secretary Kabir Bin Anwar. Bangladesh's side reiterated their request for an early conclusion of the pact with the Indian side expressing their sincere commitment and continued efforts in this regard. Water is a state issue in India and elections in the Indian state of West Bengal that borders Bangladesh hold the key to full implementation of the pact. The elections to the West Bengal legislative assembly will take place between March 27 to April 29 with results to announced on May 2. The Indian high commission in Dhaka in a release said, "both sides commended the close cooperation that exists between India and Bangladesh" on issues related to rivers. India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers. During the almost day-long talks in Delhi, both sides agreed to expand cooperation to include mitigation of pollution, riverbank protection and basin management. A joint technical working group will provide inputs on the matter. The next talks at the secretary level will be held in Dhaka. The talks come ahead of PM Modi's Bangladesh visit later this month. It will be the first visit by PM Modi in more than a year. PM Modi's last visit was in November 2019 since then due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian prime minister hasn't travelled abroad.

India, Bangladesh discuss Teesta pact, flood management at water secretaries' talks

China is giving Dhaka a loan of $1 billion for the Teesta river management project.

Teesta is the fourth-largest trans-boundary river in Bangladesh and flows through five northern districts - Gaibandha, Kurigram, 
Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Rangpur.

At least 21 million people in Bangladesh are dependant on the Teesta river. Now, China is helping Bangladesh with the management project for the river with work expected to start in December.&nbsp;Reports say it was Bangladesh that asked China for $983 million loan.

The river, however, in no way concerns China. Beijing is concerned with just two things - it gets to debt-trap Bangladesh and it is an opportunity for China to control one of India's allies.

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Teesta originates in India in Tsolamo. The river flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh. It is one of the 54 rivers that enter Bangladesh from India.

The Teesta has been a source of discord between the two countries with negotiations on water sharing dating back to 1951 when Bangladesh was East Pakistan.

Seven decades and a new country later, the negotiations have not quite reached a fruitful end. The negotiations were expedited in 2009 but the water-sharing deal is still pending. Now Bangladesh claims that because of a particular dam on the Indian side the flow of the river is reduced during winters which lead to two-month-long water crisis every year.

Bangladesh has painted India in a bad light and for China it spells an opportunity. It is the first time China is getting involved in a river management project in Bangladesh.&nbsp;

The Teesta river crisis is China's opportunity to test waters and an opportunity to whip up an anti-India sentiment, it is almost Nepal deja vu and the bad news is that so far it appears to be working.

New Delhi has sent its foreign secretary to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla on a day-long visit to Dhaka. India's foreign secretary is expected to call on Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and foreign minister Abdul Momen.

India will also be handing over around 10 broad gauge diesel locomotives to Dhaka.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, sources say the Teesta project is just one of the many projects that China is funding in Bangladesh. There are at least nine others with the total amount of loan reportedly at $6 billion. It is over and above the $22 billion Chinese loans that Bangladesh has already received, according to Bangladesh media.

China is giving Dhaka a loan of $1 billion for the Teesta river management project. Teesta is the fourth-largest trans-boundary river in Bangladesh and flows through five northern districts - Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Rangpur.

China is giving Dhaka a loan of $1 billion for the Teesta river management project. Teesta is the fourth-largest trans-boundary river in Bangladesh and flows through five northern districts - Gaibandha, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Rangpur. At least 21 million people in Bangladesh are dependant on the Teesta river. Now, China is helping Bangladesh with the management project for the river with work expected to start in December. Reports say it was Bangladesh that asked China for $983 million loan. The river, however, in no way concerns China. Beijing is concerned with just two things - it gets to debt-trap Bangladesh and it is an opportunity for China to control one of India's allies. Teesta originates in India in Tsolamo. The river flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh. It is one of the 54 rivers that enter Bangladesh from India. The Teesta has been a source of discord between the two countries with negotiations on water sharing dating back to 1951 when Bangladesh was East Pakistan. Seven decades and a new country later, the negotiations have not quite reached a fruitful end. The negotiations were expedited in 2009 but the water-sharing deal is still pending. Now Bangladesh claims that because of a particular dam on the Indian side the flow of the river is reduced during winters which lead to two-month-long water crisis every year. Bangladesh has painted India in a bad light and for China it spells an opportunity. It is the first time China is getting involved in a river management project in Bangladesh. The Teesta river crisis is China's opportunity to test waters and an opportunity to whip up an anti-India sentiment, it is almost Nepal deja vu and the bad news is that so far it appears to be working. New Delhi has sent its foreign secretary to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla on a day-long visit to Dhaka. India's foreign secretary is expected to call on Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and foreign minister Abdul Momen. India will also be handing over around 10 broad gauge diesel locomotives to Dhaka. Meanwhile, sources say the Teesta project is just one of the many projects that China is funding in Bangladesh. There are at least nine others with the total amount of loan reportedly at $6 billion. It is over and above the $22 billion Chinese loans that Bangladesh has already received, according to Bangladesh media.

Now, China gives loan to Bangladesh for Teesta river project

Bangladesh is hopeful over the assurance that was given by India over the contentious dispute on the water-sharing issue of Teesta river, flowing on the India-Bangladesh border.

The Dhaka Tribune quoted Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen while briefing the media at the VIP lounge of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his return from India on Saturday, as saying, “I am always hopeful. India and Bangladesh have solved many big problems. Based on this hope we have developed a sense of confidence and sense of mutual trust. I believe in that. And, they have assured us and I very much believe in that.”

“Not only Teesta; we have many rivers. Why are we only talking about this river? 54 (common) rivers are in our discussions. Slowly, we’ll solve (issues related to) all of them. In terms of a solution, we have advanced a lot. Time is passing, but it will be done. There is no cause for worry,” he added.

The Foreign Minister, however, did not confirm any specific date for the Teesta agreement, stating that Bangladesh is only hopeful that the two neighbouring countries would successfully sign the deal very soon.

“I cannot give any date. We are only hoping,” Momen said.

“We discussed all the common rivers, including Teesta, and we are hopeful,” he told another questioner,” the Foreign Minister added.

Previously, the Teesta water agreement was slated to be inked between the two countries on September 6, 2011, during the visit of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka. But the proposed deal was called off after repeated objections by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The water-sharing issue was once again discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka in June 2015. Prime Minister Modi had assured Shiekh Hasina of Bangladesh that the waters of the River would be shared while looking forward to achieving a quick resolution on the issue.

India and Bangladesh share 54 common streams with the Teesta being a major one and the water sharing dispute between the two neighbours is not something new.

The Teesta River is a 309 km long river flowing through Sikkim.

It carves a way for itself through the verdant Himalayas in temperate and tropical river valleys and forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal.

The flow of the river is crucial for Bangladesh from December to March for that they require 50 per cent of the river's water supply.

While India claims a share of 55 per cent.

The dispute would take back to the time when Independent India was formed which reduced most of its northern rivers into 'shared water bodies.'&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Bangladesh is hopeful over the assurance that was given by India over the contentious dispute on the water-sharing issue of Teesta river, flowing on the India-Bangladesh border.

Bangladesh is hopeful over the assurance that was given by India over the contentious dispute on the water-sharing issue of Teesta river, flowing on the India-Bangladesh border. The Dhaka Tribune quoted Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen while briefing the media at the VIP lounge of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport upon his return from India on Saturday, as saying, “I am always hopeful. India and Bangladesh have solved many big problems. Based on this hope we have developed a sense of confidence and sense of mutual trust. I believe in that. And, they have assured us and I very much believe in that.” “Not only Teesta; we have many rivers. Why are we only talking about this river? 54 (common) rivers are in our discussions. Slowly, we’ll solve (issues related to) all of them. In terms of a solution, we have advanced a lot. Time is passing, but it will be done. There is no cause for worry,” he added. The Foreign Minister, however, did not confirm any specific date for the Teesta agreement, stating that Bangladesh is only hopeful that the two neighbouring countries would successfully sign the deal very soon. “I cannot give any date. We are only hoping,” Momen said. “We discussed all the common rivers, including Teesta, and we are hopeful,” he told another questioner,” the Foreign Minister added. Previously, the Teesta water agreement was slated to be inked between the two countries on September 6, 2011, during the visit of former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Dhaka. But the proposed deal was called off after repeated objections by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The water-sharing issue was once again discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Dhaka in June 2015. Prime Minister Modi had assured Shiekh Hasina of Bangladesh that the waters of the River would be shared while looking forward to achieving a quick resolution on the issue. India and Bangladesh share 54 common streams with the Teesta being a major one and the water sharing dispute between the two neighbours is not something new. The Teesta River is a 309 km long river flowing through Sikkim. It carves a way for itself through the verdant Himalayas in temperate and tropical river valleys and forms the border between Sikkim and West Bengal. The flow of the river is crucial for Bangladesh from December to March for that they require 50 per cent of the river's water supply. While India claims a share of 55 per cent. The dispute would take back to the time when Independent India was formed which reduced most of its northern rivers into 'shared water bodies.'

Bangladesh hopeful on India's assurance over Teesta water-sharing issue