Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud on Wednesday said he is optimistic about the signing of the long-pending Teesta water-sharing treaty with India, but it is quite impossible to say the exact date when the deal will be struck.

‘I’m hopeful of Teesta water-sharing deal…but it’s impossible to say about the exact date of signing,’ he said, reports UNB.

The minister was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference in the capital, responding to a question whether Teesta water agreement will be singed during the Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to India.

Mahmud said there will be a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart and any decision can be taken right away at such a high-level meeting.

During his visit to Bangladesh in September 2011, then Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh had presented a speech titled ‘India, Bangladesh and South Asia’ at the Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University making a commitment to signing the Teesta water sharing treaty.

The minister said he does believe when a Prime Minister makes a commitment at a public meeting abroad ahead of signing an agreement that pledge is never broken.

During his visit to Bangladesh, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also assured of signing the Teesta water sharing deal, Anisul added.