Dhaka in no mood to concede further

2KM UNDEMARCATED BORDER WITH INDIA

Dhaka appears to be in no mood to concede further with regard to the demarcation of two-kilometre stretch of territory along the cross-border River Muhuri, which is yet to be demarcated to fully implement the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), 1974 and its additional protocol signed in September, 2011 due to Delhi’s ‘objection’, officials at the home and foreign ministries have told The Independent.

India has expressed its desire to conduct a new survey that is, according to Bangladesh, not possible due to some practical reasons including the constitutional issue, they said.

The LBA was scheduled to be fully implemented by June 30, 2016.

“Look, we have already given India concession in this regard. Out of humanitarian consideration, we have let them have an area that has a crematorium,” Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told The Independent.

Asked if Bangladesh will concede further, he avoided a direct answer, saying, “We do hope India will sign the remaining strip map to fully implement the LBA.”

“Since we have been able to address all the issues amicably, I am certain this one will also be resolved cordially,” he added.

Bangladesh and India have already signed 1,174 strip maps to address the unresolved areas of the border in line with the LBA and its protocol. Due to India’s objection, the strip map for the two-kilometre stretch along the Feni-Tripura part of the border has yet not been signed.

According to the Letters on Modalities for Implementation of India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement-1974 and Protocol of 2011 to the Land Boundary Agreement signed and exchanged by the foreign secretaries of both the countries on June 6, 2015 in Dhaka in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, “The implementation of the LBA and its protocol involving the transfer of 162 enclaves (111 in Bangladesh and 52 in India), adversely possessed land and border demarcation of 6.5 kilometre will be complete between midnight July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016.”

The enclaves and adversely possessed land stood transferred on midnight July 31.

But, while 4.5km areas – 3 km in Lathitila-Dumabari under Moulavibazar district and 1.5 km in Daikhata under Panchagarh District – were successfully demarcated, but two kilometre stretch in the areas adjacent to the Muhuri River under Feni district could not be demarcated by the Bangladesh-India Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) due to ‘difference of interpretation’ between the two sides, foreign ministry officials at the foreign ministry said.

Failure to resolve the issue by the JBWG and at secretarial and ministerial levels, the matter has been left for the two prime ministers to decide, they said.

Both prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi discussed the issue during Hasina’s visit to New Delhi in April and assurance was given by the Indian premier that the issue would be resolved, according to a top official of the ministry.

“India’s asking for a new survey does not make any sense at all,” a senior home ministry official said.

“We have tried to explain to them that everything has been done in accordance with the mapping of the LBA and the additional protocol of 2011. And, their parliament has approved it by amending the constitution. If they want to do it afresh through a new survey, so many legal issues will come up and the Indian parliament may have to amend the constitution again since it will involve new mapping,” he said.

“It will be best for the both sides if we sign the strip map in line with the LBA and 2011 protocol,” he added.

The officials of the home and foreign ministry are of the opinion that Bangladesh has no more to concede as it has already given up a place housing a crematorium.

Now, it is India’s time to reciprocate, they said, adding, ‘the sooner, the better’.  

Bangladesh’s argument is that the stretch must be demarcated in line with the joint survey that took place in 1978-79 while the Indians say that the demarcation will have to be as per the conditions set on September, 2011 when the additional protocol to the LBA agreement was signed.

Between 1978-79 and 2011, the officials said that there has been a change of course of the Muhuri River and if Bangladesh accepts India’s position, then there will be a loss of about 10 acres of land.

Earlier, it was said that the issue involves 70-80 acres of land.

Currently, the stretch of the border is demarcated through wooden pillars as per the LBA and its 2011 additional protocol.

Dhaka in no mood to concede further

2KM UNDEMARCATED BORDER WITH INDIA

Dhaka appears to be in no mood to concede further with regard to the demarcation of two-kilometre stretch of territory along the cross-border River Muhuri, which is yet to be demarcated to fully implement the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), 1974 and its additional protocol signed in September, 2011 due to Delhis objection, officials at the home and foreign ministries have told The Independent. India has expressed its desire to conduct a new survey that is, according to Bangladesh, not possible due to some practical reasons including the constitutional issue, they said. The LBA was scheduled to be fully implemented by June 30, 2016. Look, we have already given India concession in this regard. Out of humanitarian consideration, we have let them have an area that has a crematorium, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan told The Independent. Asked if Bangladesh will concede further, he avoided a direct answer, saying, We do hope India will sign the remaining strip map to fully implement the LBA. Since we have been able to address all the issues amicably, I am certain this one will also be resolved cordially, he added. Bangladesh and India have already signed 1,174 strip maps to address the unresolved areas of the border in line with the LBA and its protocol. Due to Indias objection, the strip map for the two-kilometre stretch along the Feni-Tripura part of the border has yet not been signed. According to the Letters on Modalities for Implementation of India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement-1974 and Protocol of 2011 to the Land Boundary Agreement signed and exchanged by the foreign secretaries of both the countries on June 6, 2015 in Dhaka in the presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, The implementation of the LBA and its protocol involving the transfer of 162 enclaves (111 in Bangladesh and 52 in India), adversely possessed land and border demarcation of 6.5 kilometre will be complete between midnight July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016. The enclaves and adversely possessed land stood transferred on midnight July 31. But, while 4.5km areas 3 km in Lathitila-Dumabari under Moulavibazar district and 1.5 km in Daikhata under Panchagarh District were successfully demarcated, but two kilometre stretch in the areas adjacent to the Muhuri River under Feni district could not be demarcated by the Bangladesh-India Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) due to difference of interpretation between the two sides, foreign ministry officials at the foreign ministry said. Failure to resolve the issue by the JBWG and at secretarial and ministerial levels, the matter has been left for the two prime ministers to decide, they said. Both prime ministers Sheikh Hasina and Narendra Modi discussed the issue during Hasinas visit to New Delhi in April and assurance was given by the Indian premier that the issue would be resolved, according to a top official of the ministry. Indias asking for a new survey does not make any sense at all, a senior home ministry official said. We have tried to explain to them that everything has been done in accordance with the mapping of the LBA and the additional protocol of 2011. And, their parliament has approved it by amending the constitution. If they want to do it afresh through a new survey, so many legal issues will come up and the Indian parliament may have to amend the constitution again since it will involve new mapping, he said. It will be best for the both sides if we sign the strip map in line with the LBA and 2011 protocol, he added. The officials of the home and foreign ministry are of the opinion that Bangladesh has no more to concede as it has already given up a place housing a crematorium. Now, it is Indias time to reciprocate, they said, adding, the sooner, the better. Bangladeshs argument is that the stretch must be demarcated in line with the joint survey that took place in 1978-79 while the Indians say that the demarcation will have to be as per the conditions set on September, 2011 when the additional protocol to the LBA agreement was signed. Between 1978-79 and 2011, the officials said that there has been a change of course of the Muhuri River and if Bangladesh accepts Indias position, then there will be a loss of about 10 acres of land. Earlier, it was said that the issue involves 70-80 acres of land. Currently, the stretch of the border is demarcated through wooden pillars as per the LBA and its 2011 additional protocol.