CM Mamata Banerjee delays return from Bangladesh to attend state dinner

DHAKA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today amended her itinerary to delay her return from here by a few more hours after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina requested her to stay for the state banquet.

Officials said the Bangladeshi premier asked Mamata, who reached here last night and was supposed to return by afternoon, to attend the state dinner hosted by Hasina in honour of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The fiery Trinamool Congress leader had caused embarrassment to the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2011 when she objected to planned Teesta river water sharing deal and dropped out of the primeministerial delegation.

This led to the postponement of the crucial deal, that was set to be inked during the visit, at the last minute.

In a show of bonhomie, Mamata travelled to the venue of the exchange of instruments of ratification regarding the historic Land Boundary Agreement in Modi's limousine.

The two leaders have not been sharing pleasant relationship and have attacked each other over various issues.

Modi also mentioned Mamata in his remarks at the joint press briefing with Hasina, saying: "We are privileged to have with us the Chief Minister of West Bengal."

With Mamata standing by his side, Modi also hinted at resolving differences over Teesta and Feni river water sharing issues with the support of state governments.

"I am confident that with the support of state governments in India, we can reach a fair solution on Teesta and Feni Rivers," he said.