Bangladesh on Wednesday welcomed the passage of a Bill by India on Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) to settle the decades-old boundary dispute.
The passage of the Bill was “most welcome,” said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam. He said that with the passage of the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, it had crossed a major hurdle on way to its implementation.
Mr. Alam on Tuesday told journalists that Bangladesh was ready to discuss about the implementation of the LBA if New Delhi sought any help from Dhaka.
The Bill will now be moved to the Lok Sabha to facilitate exchange of enclaves, transfer of adversely possessed areas and demarcation of un-demarcated border. Several diplomatic observers here felt that the Bill’s final approval after hurdles indicates the BJP government’s resolve to get it cleared in Parliament, bringing all parties on board.
According to diplomatic sources here, if the Bill is passed, Prime Minister Narendra Modi might visit Bangladesh next month.
Celebration timeMeanwhile, there were reports of celebrations from many of the 111 enclaves which India will transfer to Bangladesh once the LBA is implemented. Under the LBA, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves, all located in Cooch Behar of West Bengal, comprising 7,110 acres of land and a population of 14,215, will be transferred to India by Bangladesh.
In respect of adversely possessed land, India will get 2,777.038 acres and transfer 2,267.682 acres to Bangladesh.
