Mamata arrives Friday night

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee arrives here on Friday night on a two-day visit mainly to witness the signing of documents on Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) to be exchanged between the two countries. Though it was initially thought that she would come with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, but she is coming separately and will even be staying in a separate hotel - Hotel Radisson indicating that Mamata is not yet on the same boat with Modi regarding Teesta deal. Mamata is scheduled to land at 8.30pm. The Chief Minister, who had been in Bangladesh in February this year, urged Bangladesh to 'keep confidence' in her about the signing of the much-sought Teesta Water sharing deal between the two countries during her stay in Dhaka at that time. However, Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has recently made it clear that the Teesta water sharing agreement will not happen during Modi’s Bangladesh visit. Asked whether Mamata’s plan to visit Bangladesh separately indicates any negative notion, International Relations expert Prof Imtiaz Ahmed said if Mamata stays in Dhaka during Modi’s visit that is ‘good enough’. “Her decision to come separately may be linked to her preoccupation at home. She may show she’s not like other chief ministers. We’ve to understand she’s not like other chief ministers - Tarun Gogoi and Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar,” he added. Prof Imtiaz said Modi and Mamata are now in better terms, and there have been basic changes in their ties over the last few weeks, indicating a political compromise. “So, I don’t see any political problem and I’m hopeful there may be some surprises that may even include Teesta.” Meanwhile, just a day ahead of her Dhaka visit, Mamata flagged off the new Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala bus service terming the step as ‘historic’ as it would bring the people of Bangladesh and India strengthening the relationship between the two countries, according to Indian media. Over two dozens journalists from West Bengal will also come to Bangladesh to cover the events. They are scheduled to arrive here on Friday morning to cover the flag-off the Dhaka-Agartala leg of the Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala bus journey on Saturday afternoon. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mamata will be present at the flag-off of Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala at 4pm on Saturday, according to UNB.