India-B’desh ratify historic land deal

This will enable the two countries to exchange land enclaves in each other’s territory. Foreign secretaries of India and Bangladesh signed and exchanged the instruments of exchange in the presence of Prime Minister Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina. Modi was accompanied by Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee.

Indian Parliament, a few weeks ago, unanimously approved a Constitution Amendment Bill to give full effect to the Land Boundary Agreement of 1974 with Bangladesh and the related 2011 Protocol. The pact is aimed at the acquiring of territories by India and the transfer of territories to Bangladesh through retaining of adverse possession in pursuance of the 1974 agreement between the two nations. Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya all fall under the bill. According to a joint census conducted by both the countries, there are 111 Bangladeshi enclaves in India that houses 37,369 people while 14,215 people have been residing at 55 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh.

Speaking at a joint briefing with his Bangladeshi counterpart, the Prime Minister said: “The visit is at a historic moment. We have resolved a question that has lingered since Independence. Our two nations have a settled boundary. It will make our borders more secure and people’s life there more stable. Our Parliament’s approval of Land Boundary Agreement reflects the consensus in India on relations with Bangladesh.”

“We accepted the settlement of the maritime boundary last year. It is evidence of the maturity of our ties and our shared commitment to international rules. So, we stand at a moment of huge opportunity in our relationship. Prime Minister (Sheikh Hasina) and I recognize that.”

Modi further added: “We will work together to harness the rich potential of our relationship. And, we will address our challenges in a spirit of friendship and from a position of mutual trust and confidence.” He also emphasized the importance of trade and commerce between the two countries.

Announcing a new line of credit of $2 billion to Bangladesh, he said: “Our development partnership is scaling new heights. The quick implementation of the line of credit of $800 million and full disbursement of $200 million in grant is a tribute to our cooperation. We are pleased to extend another line of credit of $2 billion to support infrastructure and other development activities in Bangladesh.”

Modi also expressed his optimism on the two countries’ cooperation to prevent illegal activities. In a major boost to connectivity between India and Bangladesh, two bus services were flagged off on Saturday by Modi, his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and West Bengal Chief Minister 

Mamata Banerjee. 

The bus services — Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati — will link West Bengal to three North Eastern states of India via Dhaka. People of the North Eastern states of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam, which share extensive boundaries with India’s eastern neighbour, would benefit from the two services. The spotlight invariably was on the Teesta waters, one of the most emotional issues for Bangladesh in its relations with India. Bangladesh and India share 54 rivers but none evokes as much passion in Bangladesh as Teesta.