Mamata Banarjee returns to Kolkata, terms visit positive

Paschimbanga Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday termed her Bangladesh visit ‘constructive, positive and historic’.
“Her (PM Sheikh Hasina) warmth and grace made me emotional. The visit was constructive, positive and, may I say, historic,” she tweeted hours before her departure for home.
A flight of Air India carrying Mamata and her entourage left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 9:40pm.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran saw her off at the airport.Appreciating the hospitality during her three-day visit to Bangladesh, Mamata further tweeted, “Warm, wonderful and special Bangladeshi hospitality.”
Mamata met President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, interacted with eminent litterateurs and cultural personalities of India and Bangladesh at ‘Baithaki Bangla’ and with business leaders.
The Chief Minister conveyed West Bengal government’s commitment to the Land Boundary Agreement and Protocol, according to Indian High Commission in Dhaka.
The Chief Minister and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina held positive discussions on the Teesta Water issue.
Mamata conveyed that there are some technical issues that needed resolution so as to ensure that the matter is resolved in a way that benefits both sides and safeguards the welfare of the populations that are dependent on Teesta waters.
Both the leaders agreed to augment cultural interactions by adopting several measures, including holding Joint Cultural Festivals and Joint Film Festivals.
They also agreed to constitute a Joint Committee to promote cultural cooperation between West Bengal and Bangladesh.
The Chief Minister informed that the West Bengal government is constituting ‘Bangabandhu Chair’ at Kolkata University.
She extended an offer of a plot of land in Kolkata for Bangladesh to build a Bangabandhu Bhaban for use by Bangladeshi nationals visiting Kolkata for medical treatment.
Mamata invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit West Bengal for inaugurating the Bangabandhu Chair and Bangladesh Bhaban at Shantiniketan, which she graciously accepted.
She and her delegation paid homage at midnight to the language martyrs at the Central Shaheed Minar on the occasion of ‘Amar Ekushey’.
Mamata also visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum to pay homage to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She was accompanied by ministers, members of parliament, cultural personalities and senior officials.
At a reception hosted by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, she interacted with a cross-section of political parties and members of civil society and media.
She along with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed presided over a well-attended business event organised by the India-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Indian Chamber of Commerce, Kolkata. – UNB