India’s LBA ratification

When Indian  Prime Minister Modi's long-awaited visit to Bangladesh will take place, possibly as early as the next month, it will be on the heel of a positive development.  It was a landmark event when the upper house - Rajya Sabha, and the lower house - Lok Sabha of India passed unanimously the constitutional amendment bill regarding the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) with Bangladesh late last week. Bangladesh ratified the LBA immediately after it was signed but India dithered for more than four decades on its domestic considerations. The operationalisation of the agreement will not only remove one of the long-standing irritants in the bilateral relations but also contribute to further strengthening good neighbourly relations.

There were many who doubted whether India would ever ratify the LBA. The incumbent Indian leadership created a total national unity on the issue and proved the sceptics wrong. All concerned in India deserve appreciation and thanks. Bangladesh government also deserves praise for pursuing the bilateral issues, including the ratification of LBA, with India.  In fact, the contents of the deal relates to the exchange of a few thousand acres of land belonging to a number of enclaves and 'adversely possessed' lands. But what has been more important here is the 'stateless' and hapless state of thousands of people living in these enclaves and the 'adversely possessed' lands. Despite being citizens of either of the two countries they have been deprived of all civic facilities and democratic rights.

The responsibility of implementing the LBA, after its vetting by Indian state assemblies, will be vested in the administration of the two countries. The process of implementation will be a complex yet surmountable one. It is expected that there would be no dearth of efforts to ensure all the rights and privileges that the residents are entitled to as citizens of two independent countries. India has reportedly has kept all arrangements, financial or otherwise, ready for the development of infrastructure and rehabilitation of the refugees in its part of the enclaves. It is expected that Bangladesh authorities would do the same so that the expectations that have been generated among the residents of their own enclaves by the latest developments do not end up in frustration and despair.

When Prime Minister of India visits Bangladesh, he would, hopefully, carry with him some more positive news about other major irritants in bilateral relations, including the Teesta water sharing issue. Going by the latest approach of the Indian government towards solving bilateral issues, one may feel tempted to have faith in Indian Foreign Minister Shusma Swaraj's most recent statement that India wants to behave like a 'caring elder' brother, not a 'big' brother towards its neighbours.  With this kind of spirit in place, it would not be hard to resolve other problems that have been vitiating relations between the two close neighbours for long.