PM Modi in Bangladesh to conclude land swap

DHAKA: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday started a two-day visit to neighbouring Bangladesh, during which he and his hosts will conclude a landmark land swap agreement to settle a long-running border dispute.

India’s parliament has recently ratified the deal that was reached in 1974. It calls for the transfer of 111 border enclaves to Bangladesh in exchange for 51 that will become part of India. More than 50,000 residents will get citizenship after the agreement is implemented.

Relations between India and its smaller neighbour have significantly improved after Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised her administration would not allow India’s separatist insurgents to use the porous 4,000km border to carry out raids into India.

Aided by India, Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan following a bloody nine-month war in 1971.

Mr Modi and Ms Hasina are expected to sign and exchange the ratification documents for the land swap agreement, said Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Minister AH Mahmood Ali.

A number of other agreements covering trade, security and connectivity are also expected to be signed, as well a framework for combating human trafficking, counterfeit currency and cooperation for the seabased “blue economy”.

Officials said India could offer a US$2 billion (68 billion baht) line of credit to Bangladesh for infrastructure development inside the country.

Mr Ali said Bangladesh was focusing on better connectivity with India by introducing a new bus service with Indian states. India faces difficulties reaching its isolated and impoverished northeastern region and any passage through Bangladesh could cut hundreds of kilometres to get to those areas.

Mr Ali said the energy-starved Bangladesh was also looking forward to bringing 600 megawatts of electricity from India, in addition to 500 megawatts it currently imports.