The government is expecting a breakthrough on the sharing of Teesta River's waters and settlement of land disputes during Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka this year, said foreign affairs secretary Mohammed Mijarul Quayes on Saturday.
'We are expecting some landmark happenings during the visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later this year,' he said at a press briefing in the foreign affairs ministry.
The government was 'optimistic' about the resolution of various issues including sharing of Teesta's waters, land disputes at un-demarcated borders and the expediting of projects taken under the line of credit with India, he said. 'We are optimistic.'
The visit will take place well before the end of this year, said the secretary.
When asked about the concerns of the people in bordering districts on the joint boundary survey by India and Bangladesh, he said the Joint Boundary Working Group was conducting a physical survey for settling disputes on adversely possessed lands and enclaves as per the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement.
The surveys are preparatory exercises to know the actual situation on the ground before making decisions, he said. 'Maps must reflect the ground realities.'
The two governments will go for a headcount of the people in the enclaves on both sides of the border, he said.
Replying to a question by New Age on the people's concern about losing their lands to India, the secretary said, 'There is the probability of some changes in the borders and ownership of lands.'
The government 'is giving importance to the human dimension of settling the disputes on the adversely possessed lands and enclaves',' he said.
Quayes said that the visits of three Indian ministers for preparing the ground before Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka are on the cards.
Indian external affairs minister SM Krishnan is due for a three-day official visit on July 6. Home affairs minister Palaniappan Chidambaram and water resources minister Salman Khurshid will also come to Dhaka before the Indian PM's visit.
'These visits will contribute to the final outcome of Indian prime minister's visit,' said the secretary.
When asked about Indian Congress president Sonia Gandhi's proposed visit to Dhaka, he said the two governments were discussing the details of her visit.
Sonia Gandhi is expected to visit Dhaka on the last week of July.
She will join a programme on child autism organized by the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, said Quayes.
Additional foreign affairs secretary Mustafa Kamal and directors general M Sufiur Rahman, Monirul Islam and M Shameem Ahsan were present at the briefing.
Source : New Age
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