Enclaves to be exchanged
Front PageEnclaves to be exchanged
Dhaka, Delhi agree to do it in 'pragmatic manner'; facilitate 24-hour access through Tin Bigha Corridor
Pallab Bhattacharya, New Delhi
Bangladesh and India yesterday agreed that exchange of enclaves and territories in adverse possession between the two neighbours should be done in a "pragmatic manner in tune with ground realities".
A joint statement by the two countries, in New Delhi last afternoon, said with a view to implementing the decision to allow 24-hour unfettered access to Bangladeshi nationals through Tin Bigha Corridor, both sides agreed to expeditiously put in place all necessary arrangements, including infrastructure and security.
The statement came following conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Joint Boundary Working Group in the Indian capital the same day. The meeting was the group's fourth.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the recent electrification of Dahagram and Angarpota of Bangladesh, and recalled the observations made during joint visits to enclaves and adverse possessions in May 2007.
They said mutually reconciled list of enclaves had already been prepared and signed -- there are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India -- and agreed to jointly take the steps necessary to facilitate the process of handing over those enclaves to respective countries.
Regarding territories under adverse possession, they agreed that in finding a pragmatic solution to the issue, the spirit of Land Boundary Agreement and the ground realities should be kept in mind.
With a view to facilitating a solution, they agreed to jointly assess the areas in the lines of the joint exercise undertaken in 1996-97.
As a part of that understanding, both parties agreed to take up the issue of adversely possessed land along MeghalayaBangladesh border on a priority basis.
They agreed that pending a resolution of outstanding boundary issues, the status quo should be retained and peaceful conditions should be maintained in the border region
They also agreed to "work constructively" towards resolving differences to demarcate the land boundary in all three undemarcated segments at Daikhata-56, Lathitilla-Dumabari, and Muhuri River (Belonia).
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made during the meeting, and described it as an "important and positive step towards resolving all the outstanding boundary issues", while agreeing to meet in Dhaka again at a mutually convenient time.
The Indian delegation was led by TS Tirumurti, joint secretary to the external affairs ministry, while the Bangladesh delegation was led by Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, joint secretary (political) to the home ministry.
The meeting was the first in five years. The joint working group was set up in December 2000 to resolve matters relating to demarcation of the undemarcated boundary between India and Bangladesh, and other outstanding issues pertaining to territories in adverse possession, enclaves, and also erection of permanent boundary pillars where necessary on the demarcated boundary. The group had its first meeting in July 2001.
The latest meeting was a follow-up of the visit by the Bangladesh prime minister to India in January this year, when she and her Indian counterpart had agreed to comprehensively address all outstanding issues keeping in view the spirit of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement.
The group "discussed all outstanding issues pertaining to the land boundary in a cordial and friendly atmosphere with a view to arriving at a comprehensive solution", the joint statement said.
Front PageEnclaves to be exchanged
Dhaka, Delhi agree to do it in 'pragmatic manner'; facilitate 24-hour access through Tin Bigha Corridor
Pallab Bhattacharya, New Delhi
Bangladesh and India yesterday agreed that exchange of enclaves and territories in adverse possession between the two neighbours should be done in a "pragmatic manner in tune with ground realities".
A joint statement by the two countries, in New Delhi last afternoon, said with a view to implementing the decision to allow 24-hour unfettered access to Bangladeshi nationals through Tin Bigha Corridor, both sides agreed to expeditiously put in place all necessary arrangements, including infrastructure and security.
The statement came following conclusion of a two-day meeting of the Joint Boundary Working Group in the Indian capital the same day. The meeting was the group's fourth.
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the recent electrification of Dahagram and Angarpota of Bangladesh, and recalled the observations made during joint visits to enclaves and adverse possessions in May 2007.
They said mutually reconciled list of enclaves had already been prepared and signed -- there are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India -- and agreed to jointly take the steps necessary to facilitate the process of handing over those enclaves to respective countries.
Regarding territories under adverse possession, they agreed that in finding a pragmatic solution to the issue, the spirit of Land Boundary Agreement and the ground realities should be kept in mind.
With a view to facilitating a solution, they agreed to jointly assess the areas in the lines of the joint exercise undertaken in 1996-97.
As a part of that understanding, both parties agreed to take up the issue of adversely possessed land along MeghalayaBangladesh border on a priority basis.
They agreed that pending a resolution of outstanding boundary issues, the status quo should be retained and peaceful conditions should be maintained in the border region
They also agreed to "work constructively" towards resolving differences to demarcate the land boundary in all three undemarcated segments at Daikhata-56, Lathitilla-Dumabari, and Muhuri River (Belonia).
Both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made during the meeting, and described it as an "important and positive step towards resolving all the outstanding boundary issues", while agreeing to meet in Dhaka again at a mutually convenient time.
The Indian delegation was led by TS Tirumurti, joint secretary to the external affairs ministry, while the Bangladesh delegation was led by Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, joint secretary (political) to the home ministry.
The meeting was the first in five years. The joint working group was set up in December 2000 to resolve matters relating to demarcation of the undemarcated boundary between India and Bangladesh, and other outstanding issues pertaining to territories in adverse possession, enclaves, and also erection of permanent boundary pillars where necessary on the demarcated boundary. The group had its first meeting in July 2001.
The latest meeting was a follow-up of the visit by the Bangladesh prime minister to India in January this year, when she and her Indian counterpart had agreed to comprehensively address all outstanding issues keeping in view the spirit of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement.
The group "discussed all outstanding issues pertaining to the land boundary in a cordial and friendly atmosphere with a view to arriving at a comprehensive solution", the joint statement said.
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