The programme in Dhaka is one of the key highlights of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the neighbouring country. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined PM Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.
The pact was signed in 1974 between the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. It was ratified by the Bangladeshi Parliament almost immediately after the Indian Parliament ratified it last month.
The pact provides for demarcating the border as well as an exchange of 161 enclaves between the two countries. Bangladesh will receive 111 enclaves (17,160 acres) from India’s possession and India will receive 51 enclaves (7,110 acres) from Bangladesh. Enclaves are tiny landlocked territories that each country has within the borders of the other nation. On Indian side, most of the enclaves to be exchanged are in West Bengal.
Tabling the Bill in the Lok Saha in the budget session of parliament last month, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had explained that the Modi Government managed to assuage concerns of parties like Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.
The Trinamool Congress’ worry was that West Bengal would not be able to look after the influx of people following the exchange of territories. The Modi Government at the Centre has agreed to sanction a little over Rs 3000 crore for their rehabilitation.
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