Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to satate :-

(a) whether it is a fact that Government has signed MoU recently with Bangladesh dealing the land of India and Bangladesh in connection with the solution of border issue;

(b) if so, the details of such agreement and total area of Indian land involved in the agreement;

(c) whether it is a fact that the present agreement of transfer of land to Bangladesh has deviated from the agreement signed in New Delhi on May 16, 1974 between the then Prime Minister of India and Bangladesh; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER: THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI E. AHAMED)

(a) & (b) A Protocol to the Agreement Concerning the Demarcation of the Land Boundary between India and Bangladesh and Related Matters, 1974, was signed during the visit of the Prime Minister to Bangladesh on September 06, 2011. The Protocol addresses the outstanding land boundary issues pertaining to the un-demarcated land boundary, exchange of enclaves and territories in adverse possession. It is subject to ratification by the Governments of the two countries and shall enter into force on the date of exchange of the Instruments of Ratification. The Protocol is based on the situation on the ground and takes into account the wishes of the people residing in the areas involved. The implementation of the Agreement will result in exchange of 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh with 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India and preserve status quo on territories in adverse possession.

(c) & (d) While Article 2 of the Land Boundary Agreement 1974 states that the two countries would exchange territories in Adverse Possession in already demarcated areas, the 2011 Protocol provides for drawing of boundaries so that the territories in adverse possessions do not have to be exchanged.

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