I would like to offer my kind felicitations to our prime minister for her success with the recent ratification of the land boundary agreement signed between Sheikh Mujib and Indira Gandhi way back in 1974.
In the immediate past Indian high commissioner, Rajeet Mitter, told me several times that subsequent to the visit of Dr Manmohan Singh in September 2011, Sheikh Hasina was adamant on this ratification. On the other hand, Dr Manmohan Singh was equally, if not more, embarrassed to see how the ratification of the agreement was taking so much time, especially with, reportedly, serious resistance from West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee and from the now ruling BJP.
What was the resistance about? Not much. It is the issue of exchanging a total of 162 enclaves between India and Bangladesh. 51 Bangladeshi enclaves within Indian territory and 111 Indian enclaves within Bangladeshi territory.
According to a 2007 joint survey, 14,215 Bangladeshis live in the enclaves now occupied by India, and 37,334 Indian live in the Indian enclaves occupied by Bangladesh. Once the exercise comes into action, Bangladesh will receive 971 hectares of land and India 1,124 hectares. Due to the transfers, West Bengal will lose 792 hectares of land, Meghalaya 17 hectares, and Assam 108 hectares. On the other hand, West Bengal will gain 970 hectares, Meghalaya 97 hectares, and Tripura 56 hectares. On first glance, it may look like India has gained more than Bangladesh.
Most Bangladeshis tend to think that Congress is a very good friend to our nation. But when was the water-sharing agreement signed? During Morarji Desai’s time in 1977. When was the Ganges River Treaty signed? During Deve Gowda’s time in 1996. When has the LBA been ratified?
When the BJP is in power. Yes, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh, finance minister, and now President, Pranab Mukherjee, were all eager to see an early resolution of Indo-Bangla disputes, especially the ratification of the LBA and a resolution to the Teesta water-sharing deal.
What Congress was unable to do over a long period, BJP did within a much shorter time, while giving signals to Mamata Banerjee saying: “Either behave, or you will be forced into the corner.” Mamata is trying to survive through the election coming in two years, courting controversy in her own domain.
She obviously didn’t want to keep too many doors open, and cleverly decided to change her laundry list with the “centre.” With a widening fiscal deficit in West Bengal, she has asked for Rs3,008cr from the centre for the rehabilitation of Indians migrating from the Bangladesh-owned Indian enclaves.
I doubt it though -- very few people will try to migrate after years of settlement. The centre is happy that Mamata is seemingly more than consoled now with the LBA being ratified. The centre had to deal with Assam the same way, though they are known to be more of a friend to the BJP.
I am more appreciative of the diplomatic moves driven by our concerned ministries, especially the foreign ministry. Kudos to our foreign minister, a career diplomat and a silent worker, his able lieutenant, the foreign secretary, a man with military training and disciplined thinking, with his very good South Asia desk being both previously and presently manned by brilliant diplomats.
I would be a miser with my praises if, at this point in time, I don’t remember Ambassador Ahmad Tariq Karim, the immediate past Bangladesh high commissioner to India. The gentleman did his homework on the history of the LBA -- what went wrong over the years and where the show was pinching.
His networking with the South Block worked well in this regard. Credit goes to Indian Ambassador Rajeet Mitter and his successor Pankaj Saran and his team at the Indian High Commission, Dhaka. They were quite driven to walk the talk between Dr Singh and our PM.
I will also give credit to Dr Moshiur Rahman, the economic adviser to our PM, who, even at the cost of getting some dirt on his name, continued to iron out the differences between India and Bangladesh.
My heartiest congratulations to Professor Gowher Rizvi, the foreign affairs adviser at the PMO. Delhi seniors, including Congress stalwarts, reminded me of Dr Rizvi’s network with the Indian seniors and many of those who matter most holding him in high regard. Professor Rizvi’s extremely amiable but focused nature gained for us a lot in other areas too, and helped him gain tremendous trust with the highest offices of the republic.
Altogether, the ratification of the LBA is an example of many stakeholders working together. Narendra Modi’s “neigbours first” approach, for the first time, meant a lot for Bangladesh. Let us hope for an early resolution to the Teesta dispute as well.