The by-poll result of a provincial assembly seat has never been a diplomatic issue between two countries. But the Bhawanipore assembly election, which saw West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee elected by a record margin, defeating the  candidate of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by nearly 59,000 votes, brought congratulatory messages from the Bangladesh government.

Immediately after the result was announced October 3, the Bangladesh Foreign Minister, A K Abdul Momen, sent a congratulatory letter to Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress.

Momen said in the letter that relations between Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal would be closer and “complementary” in the days to come. It is no secret  that the Indian government is keen to sign a deal for sharing of the Teesta River waters with Bangladesh, which has been pending since 2011, even after both sides okayed the draft agreement on the matter. Last minute opposition to the agreement by Banerjee, on the plea that most farmers of North Bengal would suffer due to a shortage of water, stalled the deal. The letter written by Momen is testimony to the fact that Bangladesh has embarked upon a strategy to woo the WB Chief Minister to accept the prepared agreement.

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