Dhaka, Sep 7 (IANS) Officials have been asked to "intensify their efforts towards finding a viable formula which does not cause undue distress to all those, in India or in Bangladesh", said Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday over the Teesta water issue.


India and Bangladesh did not sign the Teesta river water sharing accord after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee opposed it, causing much unhappiness here.

Manmohan Singh was wrapping up a two-day visit to Dhaka Tuesday that saw both countries inking pacts on various issues, including resolving a festering border row.

During his address at Dhaka University Wednesday, Manmohan Singh said: "I was hopeful that during this visit we would be able to come to an agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta river."

"Both sides worked very hard to arrive at a solution that would be acceptable to all. Unfortunately these efforts did not meet their success within the time available," he said.

The prime minister added that he has asked "the concerned officials to intensify their efforts towards finding a viable formula which does not cause undue distress to all those, in India or in Bangladesh, who are dependent on the flows of the river".

The Teesta, which begins its journey in Sikkim, flows through north Bengal before entering Bangladesh. India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers.

Manmohan Singh said that concern has been expressed from time to time on the Tipaimukh dam project in India. The project is to take place in Manipur.

"I wish to make it clear that India will not take steps that will adversely affect Bangladesh," he assured. The packed hall of Dhaka University, which was set up in 1921, listened with rapt attention to Manmohan Singh's speech.

India and Bangladesh Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Jawaharlal Nehru University and Dhaka University.

On the border issue, Manmohan Singh said: "The effective management of our borders is probably the biggest challenge we face in developing our bilateral relations."

India shares over 4,000 km long border with Bangladesh.

"…both our governments have worked hard to resolve the outstanding boundary issues in the spirit of give and take. A protocol was signed (Tuesday) to finalise the unresolved issues of the enclaves, areas under adverse possession and undemarcated areas. This will be done without dislocating people living in the border areas," he said.

On terror, he said that both India and Bangladesh "are vulnerable to the forces of extremisim and terrorism. Such forces sap the strength of our societies, threaten our state systems and impede our progress. It is therefore of paramount importance that we work together to confront this challenge".

He said serious efforts were being made to "improve border infrastructure".

"New integrated check posts are coming up at Petrapole in West Bengal, Agartala in Tripura and Dawki in Meghalaya. The border haat at Kalaichar-Baliamari in Meghalaya has been inaugurated, and procedures for movement of trucks from Bhutan and Nepal to Bangladesh have been finalized," he said.