Has BJP’s Biplab Deb Replaced TMC’s, Mamata Banerjee?

New Delhi: Visiting Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina seems to have found a new ally in Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb, after years of a blow hot and cold relationship with another Bengali speaking Chief Minister - Mamata Banerjee.

Biplab Deb flew into Delhi on Thursday after Hasina requested a specific meeting with the Tripura leader whose state borders Bangladesh.

While Biplab Deb requested a direct international flight between Dhaka and Agartala, Hasina seems to have given an in-principle go-ahead for that. Issues related to an international driving permit between India and Bangladesh through the Tripura border featured in the meeting that lasted for 90 minutes. Both leaders have agreed on providing temporary permits.

There was a waterway also about to be built between Tripura’s Sinamura and Bangladesh. That too is likely to be declared as “international protocol route”, post this meeting, subject to the Indo-Bangladesh agreements.

Bangladesh is a Bengali speaking nation and hence had historical bonds with West Bengal. But the relationship between the two leaders, Hasina and Banerjee, hasn’t been consistent. Back in 2011, Banerjee had refused to accompany then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh. In spite of requests from Hasina, the Bengal Chief Minister did not yield. (IANS)

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