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

(a) whether the Government has taken any measures to improve relationship with neighbouring Bangladesh;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether recent border-land agreement is a part of the peace effort with Bangladesh; and

(d) if so, the approximate border area likely to be transferred to Bangladesh under the said agreement to solve the border issue between the two countries?

ANSWER: THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SMT. PRENEET KAUR)

(a) & (b) Government has taken several significant steps to improve India’s relationship with neighbouring Bangladesh based on a vision for durable and long-term cooperation to achieve mutual peace, prosperity and stability. The landmark visits of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to India in January 2010 and the Prime Minister of India to Bangladesh in September 2011 opened a new chapter in bilateral relations between the two countries. Considerable progress has been achieved in key areas of cooperation such as security, power, water sharing, land boundary, transit, connectivity etc.

(c) & (d) A Protocol to the Agreement Concerning the Demarcation of the Land Boundary between India and Bangladesh and Related Matters, 1974, was signed on September 06, 2011 during the visit of the Prime Minister to Bangladesh. The Protocol paves the way for a settlement of the long pending land boundary issues between the two countries and addresses the 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 Instruments of Ratification. The implementation of the Protocol will result in the exchange of 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh with 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India and preserve status quo on territories in adverse possession.

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South Asia