HASINA’S upcoming india VISIT

Decision likely on 2-km undemarcated border

Issue could not be resolved by the Bangladesh-India Joint Boundary Working Group and at secretarial and ministerial levels

A decision to resolve an issue related to the demarcation of two kilometres of the border to fully implement the Land Boundary Agreement-1974 between Bangladesh and India and its additional protocol signed in 2011 will be made in Bangladesh’s favour during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s April 7-10 Delhi visit, hope officials concerned. The deadline set by the both governments for the implementation of the LBA has passed on June 30, 2016.
The implementation of the LBA and its protocol involving transfer of 162 enclaves (111 in Bangladesh and 52 in India) and adversely possessed land and border demarcation of 6.5 kilometre will be complete between midnight July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016, according to the letters on modalities for implementation of India- Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement-1974 and Protocol of 2011 to the 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 enclaves and adversely possessed land stood transferred on midnight
of July 31.
But, while 4km areas – 3 km in Lathitila-Dumabari under Moulavibazar district and 1.5km in Daikhata under Panchagarh district – were successfully demarcated, but two kilometre stretch in the area 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 sources told The Independent.
Failing 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.
“The issue is set to be discussed by the two prime ministers when they will hold official talks in New Delhi on Saturday (April 8). We are hoping an outcome in our favour,” said a top official.
Echoing the top official, a senior
official also said that if this issue can be addressed during the prime minister’s visit, the LBA will be fully implemented, addressing the all the pending border issues between the two countries.
“We do hope there will be an amicable solution to the issue,” he said. Refusing to describe it as a dispute, the officials said that it is merely a difference in interpreting the issue and that it will be settled amicably.
When asked to elaborate, they said that 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 condition of September, 2011 when the additional protocol was signed. Between 1978-79 and 2011, the officials said that there has been a change of course in the Muhuri River and if Bangladesh accepts India’s position then there will be a loss of about 70-80 acres of land. As Bangladesh is not prepared to accept India’s argument, they have decided to take the matter at political levels, they said. “We are not going to give in. Let the matter be settled at the political level,” said a senior official. Striking a note of optimism, he stated, “Look, we have solved all the big problems amicably. This one will also be solved in the same manner.”

 

HASINAS upcoming india VISIT

Decision likely on 2-km undemarcated border

Issue could not be resolved by the Bangladesh-India Joint Boundary Working Group and at secretarial and ministerial levels

A decision to resolve an issue related to the demarcation of two kilometres of the border to fully implement the Land Boundary Agreement-1974 between Bangladesh and India and its additional protocol signed in 2011 will be made in Bangladeshs favour during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas April 7-10 Delhi visit, hope officials concerned. The deadline set by the both governments for the implementation of the LBA has passed on June 30, 2016. The implementation of the LBA and its protocol involving transfer of 162 enclaves (111 in Bangladesh and 52 in India) and adversely possessed land and border demarcation of 6.5 kilometre will be complete between midnight July 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016, according to the letters on modalities for implementation of India- Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement-1974 and Protocol of 2011 to the 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 enclaves and adversely possessed land stood transferred on midnight of July 31. But, while 4km areas 3 km in Lathitila-Dumabari under Moulavibazar district and 1.5km in Daikhata under Panchagarh district were successfully demarcated, but two kilometre stretch in the area 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 sources told The Independent. Failing 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. The issue is set to be discussed by the two prime ministers when they will hold official talks in New Delhi on Saturday (April 8). We are hoping an outcome in our favour, said a top official. Echoing the top official, a senior official also said that if this issue can be addressed during the prime ministers visit, the LBA will be fully implemented, addressing the all the pending border issues between the two countries. We do hope there will be an amicable solution to the issue, he said. Refusing to describe it as a dispute, the officials said that it is merely a difference in interpreting the issue and that it will be settled amicably. When asked to elaborate, they said that 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 condition of September, 2011 when the additional protocol was signed. Between 1978-79 and 2011, the officials said that there has been a change of course in the Muhuri River and if Bangladesh accepts Indias position then there will be a loss of about 70-80 acres of land. As Bangladesh is not prepared to accept Indias argument, they have decided to take the matter at political levels, they said. We are not going to give in. Let the matter be settled at the political level, said a senior official. Striking a note of optimism, he stated, Look, we have solved all the big problems amicably. This one will also be solved in the same manner.