"We have special relations with Bangladesh and we are fully aware of Bangladesh's concerns….We have to take effective steps expeditiously to resolve those issues,'' Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at his office in New Delhi yesterday.
Talking to a group of journalists from Bangladesh, Pranab admitted that there has been delay in implementing India's commitments made to Bangladesh. "There have been some slippages. People want to see much more things visible,'' he added.
A powerful minister of Manmohan's cabinet, Pranab said he would talk to his cabinet colleagues in different ministries concerned to see why things are being delayed and seriously pursue for expeditious implementations of the commitments listed in the Joint Communique, which was issued during Sheikh Hasina's visit to India in January last year.
"Whatever we have committed to Bangladesh, we must need to implement,'' the Indian Finance Minister said, adding "I do feel that some of the issues should be implemented immediately.''
Replying to a question about the interim Teesta water sharing, Pranab said "We want to make announcement about it during the Indian prime minister's visit [to Dhaka] some time this year.''
However, he said the elections in different Indian states and some other issues are delaying Manmohan's visit.
Asked about the frequent killing of Bangladeshi nationals in border areas, Pranab said given the "deep and intense relations'' with Bangladesh, such incidents are "extremely unwarranted."
The Indian finance minister suggested that an institutional mechanism should be worked out to stop recurrence of such incidents and ensure a peaceful border.
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