FM rules out Teesta deal timeframe

Foreign Minister (FM) AH Mahmood Ali said on Thursday the government is pushing India to sign the much-delayed agreement on sharing Teesta river water, but ruled out any specific timeframe. “The government’s diplomatic efforts are on to sign the Teesta deal very soon. It is being delayed because of India’s internal political complexities,” he said. The Foreign Minister was responding to a starred question of AKM Jahangir Hossain (Patuakhali-3) in the Parliament. Mahmood Ali said the Indian prime minister regretted for not being able to sign the accord despite both sides’ sincere efforts. On ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) the minister said Dhaka keeps reminding New Delhi to sign the deal, according to a news agency.