West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Friday that she would meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Kolkata on Saturday.
Ms. Banerjee told journalists at Visva Bharati that the meeting would take place on the last day of Ms. Hasina's visit to the State.
“Bangladesh Bhavana will be inaugurated at Visva Bharati. Bangladesh invited me. The Prime Minister of both countries will be present. I will be there too. I will talk to Sheikh Hasina separately next day [Saturday],” she said.
The meeting assumes significance because of the Teesta water sharing agreement between the two countries against which Ms Banerjee has publicly expressed her reservation.
The Chief Minister, however, said that Ms. Hasina's visit would focus on cultural ties.
When asked about Teesta, she said, "I don't think the issue will be discussed,".
Award controversy
On the controversy over Desikottam, the highest award of the university which will not be presented this year, she said, "I would have been happy if the honour was conferred on Amitabh Bachhan or Jogen Chowdhury and others. If they were given the honor this convocation would have emerged as a more solemn event as they all are competent people. "
On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Ms. Hasina and Ms. Banerjee will be present at the convocation of Visa Bharati and the inauguration of Bangladesh Bhawan on the campus of the central University. A host of bilateral issues are likely to come up for discussion when the three leaders meet.
