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India-Dhaka foreign office level talks |
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India and Bangladesh have decided to resolve around 30-year-old border dispute by initiating “a new mechanism that will delve on demarcation of land and enclaves in “diverse possession a The two-day consultations between India and Bangladesh foreign Offices in New Delhi have ended with The decision that the pending territorial problems between The two nations should be resolved speedily. In what is being seen as a new dimension in the relationship, The two sides decided to address Thenagging issues pending in Theland and border agreement of 1974.
The proposed new mechanism will work on demarcation of a small stretch of land around 6.5 km along over 4000 km border and enclaves of territories in “adverse opposition a There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladesh enclaves in Indian territory. Without giving details on Thenew mechanism, a Foreign Ministry official said that it could be a working group or any other arrangement where such dispute will be take up and register The progress. The issue of terrorism also figured in Thetalks which ware chaired by Bangladesh foreign secretary C.M Safi Sami and The Indian side was represented by foreign secretary Lalit Mansingh.
The delegations from the two sides included officials from wide variety of fields including those from ministries of home affairs of the two countries, water resource management, industry, roads and railways among others. From The Indian side, representatives of State governments of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, Assam and West Bengal also attended The meeting. Apan from the border issues, The two sides decided to expand the Calcutta-Dhaka and Shillong-Dhaka. The two countries hoped that the new bus service will be put into place soon. The two nations also reviewed steps for consolidating bilateral trade and economic co-operation in clouding in areas relating to water resources, science and technology and liberalisation of visa arrangements. The Indian and Bangladeshi delegations also underscored The need for free and unhindered movement in the in Bigha corridor where certain restrictions are in place now.
The transit of Indian goods to North-East India from West Bengal is another issue of importance for both countries. India has been pressing Bangladesh to grant it transit facilities for The past many years. The demand gathered ground after the neighbours successfully sorted out Theproblem of Ganga water sharing with an agreement in 1996. The ruling Awami League in Dhaka is willing to grant Delhi the transit facilities, but is apprehensive that such a move will have an adverse impact back home.
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is perceived to be a too close to India and her political adversaries have been using this impression against her. At a time when the country is gearing up for elections sometime in the middle of next year it will be foolish on her pan to yield of the transit issue as it will be seen by the Opposition as a major concession to India. The Bangladesh government feels that by opening new bus routes and reviving the old rail links. Delhi in effect can enjoy transit facilities in Bangladesh, though officially it may not be acknowledged.
Another contentious issue concerns Teen Bigha. Following the Indira Gandhi-Mujibur Rahman agreement in 1974, Delhi got back access to its enclaves in Berubari, but Bangladesh enclaves in Angarpota and Dahagram have run into difficulties. Delhi has given Dhaka an alternate-hours access through Teen Bigha to its enclave. This means at Bangladesh can reach their enclaves within India every alternate hour during the day. However, this is creating problems for the neighbour who now wants aunfettered accessa to the enclaves.
Elections in Bangladesh arc expected in the first half of next year. The ruling Begum Hasina Government, which pulled off important economic deals with India like the Ganga Water Treaty (1996), a bus service between Calcutta and Dhaka and non-reciprocal tariff concessions on export to India of more than 2,000 items, is keen to iron out the bureaucratic problems which continue to pose obstacles. Observers feel this would be crucial for Begum Hasina when she goes to the polls next June for the sake of showing proof of dividends in following a pro-India policy throughout its term in contrast to the earlier, Khaleda Zia regime's active India-baiting and pro-Islamabad foreign policy.
Sheikh Hasina's government is perceived as pro-Indian and relations between the two countries have improved since she came to power in 1996. One of the major achievements was an agreement on Ganga water sharing in December 1996. The deal paved the way for strong ties with regular exchange of visits at different levels over the past few years. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee went to Dhaka last year during the Kargil conflict to flag off the Dhaka-Calcutta bus service. Last October, he met Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the UN Millennium Summit in New York. Although trade and economic cooperation, particularly steps to narrow the trade gap will be discussed, the rise of religious fundamentalism and the threat both countries face from it will also come up at the talks.
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