Mamata Banerjee to meet Sheikh Hasina on Saturday

SHANTINIKETAN: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she would hold a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday, but the Teesta river water sharing issue would not be discussed.
"We will be meeting in Kolkata before she (Hasina) leaves for Bangladesh the day after tomorrow. There is no place for discussion on Teesta river," Banerjee told newsmen here.

The chief minister said that she shared a very cordial relationship with Hasina and no geographical or political boundary can create differences between West Bengal and Bangladesh as they have the same culture and language.

"I admire Hasina-di most and she loves me. Our relationship is very honest and everlasting. I hope the relation between India and Bangladesh will grow stronger with time," she said.

Banerjee had earlier said that the Teesta river was the lifeline of north Bengal and there was very little water in it. She had said other trans-national rivers could be diverted to meet Bangladesh's water needs.

The Teesta water sharing issue was discussed by the two countries in New Delhi on April 9.

The chief minister is in Shantiniketan to participate in the Visva-Bharati convocation tomorrow. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sheikh Hasina will address the programme.