Teesta water treaty to be signed soon: Envoy

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Outgoing Indian High Commissioner (HC) in Dhaka Rajeet Mitter Thursday apprised President M Zillur Rahman that the pending Teesta Water Treaty would be signed soon between Bangladesh and India, reports BSS. He conveyed the message to the President while paying his farewell call on him at Bangabhaban on the day. During the meeting, the President thanked the HC for discharging his duty here with high-efficiency and sincerity in the last two years. Terming India as the closest and trusted friend of Bangladesh, President Rahman expressed his satisfaction over the excellent bilateral relations between Dhaka and New Delhi. The President also expressed his satisfaction over the opening of Dahgram-Angarpota corridor for 24 hours for the Bangladeshi citizens. The Indian envoy apprised the President that there is no Indian government's bar on telecasting Bangladeshi television channels in India. "This is the responsibility of only the cable operators who could launch such operation in India," he said. Mitter also informed President M Zillur Rahman that India and Bangladesh would jointly celebrate the 90th birth anniversary of the country's national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam following the celebration of Poet Rabinranath Tagore's 150th birth anniversary. The Indian High Commissioner said visa process to India for the Bangladeshi citizens has been made easier by giving visa appointments through online and presently about 2,000 Bangladeshis travel to India everyday. The envoy also apprised the President that Indian government has built 2,800 houses in the cyclone Aila-hit areas in Satkhira district and facilitated solar energy in those houses at its own cost. The outgoing HC lauded the Bangladesh government's success in sustaining 6.5 to 7.0 per cent of economic growth in recent years. Secretaries concerned to the President's office were present.