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Time for new border
FROM PAGE 1
on a range of bilateral issues like Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India, security, transit, trade, water sharing, etc and he is very much optimistic about breaking out of these very old issues.
According to official sources there is a stretch of 6.5 km unmarked border, and some 110 enclaves are inside Bangladesh while 55 others in Indian territory.
Pinak Ranjan said during joint visits of Indian and Bangladesh officials in the past, it was found that people of the enclaves do not want to leave the land in which they have settled, worked and have farms. "These pieces of land are all contiguous, so there is a possibility that we redraw the international border and finish this problem once and for all. Of course we will need a joint survey, which we will start soon after the summit meeting of the prime ministers of India and Bangladesh," he added.
The Bangla speaking Indian diplomat, who spent over six years as deputy high commissioner and high commissionerin Bangladesh, said, "We have only 6.2 kilometres of undemarcated border when we have settled dispute over 4,000 kilometres. My suggestion is, let us draw the line along the places where status quo is imposed."
Asked whether there is any progress made in this regard, Pinak said the issues have been discussed at the highest level and by and large there are agreements in principle. The unmarked land and enclaves are not in a position of great strategic importance, so it is doable and soluble.
"Riming to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to India, Pinak said he was very much optimistic about the summit meeting. Presently, the India-Bangladesh relations are breaking new grounds and there is renewed commitment between the two new govern-
ments to break out of longstanding unresolved issues through innovative solutions.
He said the PMs had already met twice, once in NAM summit and then in Commonwealth summit, so dialogue has started. "Now I look at the visit as culmination of the dialogue. We hope there will be a joint declaration, in which all the issues of our bilateral significance will be covered. Let me say that we will surprise you with what will happen."
Asked what will be the surprise for Bangladesh, the outgoing high commissioner said, "No, nothing dramatic, I mean there will be no earth-shaking event, but solutions will be there. And we will break some new grounds as we have said."
Citing example, he said India has already promised 100MW of power to Bangladesh and there will be an agreement on the provision of power from India. "I think the grid connectivity work will start soon after the agreement. May be in a couple of years time we may actually find power flowing in from India to Bangladesh."
At the summit meeting of the two PMs, he said, another important issue would be transit for Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan. "We are hoping that motor vehicle agreement will be signed or at least work will start immediately after the visit, so that we can have Bangladeshi trucks go to Bhutan and Nepal through Indian territory. And vice versa Indian trucks to come to offload goods up to certain points as Benapole and Petrapole are highly congested land ports. Some kind of dispersion would help in decongestion."
The other major issue, he said, the officials are working on is how can containers come over land from India and Bangladesh to each other's territory. Train and waterways are very viable and the cost of trade would go down that would
ultimately benefit the people.
On security issues, he said, cooperation between the two countries in the field of security is expanding and the present government in Bangladesh is very sensitive and both the countries are now working closely to combat terrorism, insurgency and criminal activities. "I think the issue needs to be get down on the microscope ... we will naturally pursue it vigorously because we think security is so essential to our development, well-being and future prospects."
He also said that India will not give shelter to anybody who is wanted in Bangladesh and will be happy to hand them over to Bangladesh. "I am confident that it is already happening. I am sure this will send a huge message to those who want to disturb the peace of either country or destabilise them. I think they will get the message that Bangladesh and India are not the places where they can get away with it."
On trade gap, he said India has already shortened the negative list and will probably reduce more so that Bangladeshi products can get duty free access. In this context, he said, India has provided duty free access to 8 million pieces of readymade garment, of which Bangladesh has not used 60 percent or thereabout. He suggested that Bangladeshi exporters go to the Indian market and do a lot of advertising because there is no such presence of marketing and advertising of Bangladeshi products.
About his personal feeling prior to departure Pinak Ranjan said, "I am very satisfied, but my only regret is that I am not able to stay on for the visit of the Bangladesh prime minister next month as I am going to take my new diplomatic assignment. Now my successor who is coming here on 26th will have the honour and 1 shall surely watch with great interest from Bangkok."