The ratification of the land border agreement will cast away the confusions of border demarcation. However, border management will remain a challenge for both the countries, especially India, due to migration issues, writes VIKASH KUMAR
The much-awaited Constitution (119th Amendment) Bill, 2013, to bring in the revised India-Bangladesh land boundary agreement into force was tabled in Parliament and passed unanimously on May 7. The passage of the Bill which was pending since 1974, marked a historic day for India-Bangladesh relations. The ratification of the agreement will cast away the confusions of border demarcation. However, border management will remain a challenge for both the countries, especially for India, due to migration issues.
This reminds one of how domestic politics influences the foreign policy of a country, especially one that is in its neighbourhood. Both, the 2013 and 2015 Bills had the bearing of Indian domestic regional politics. When the 2013 Bill was to be tabled in Parliament, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Trinamool Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad opposed it tooth and nail to the extent of contesting Parliament’s jurisdiction to alter the territory of India by an amendment to the Constitution.
However, when the BJP came into power, the Bill was passed. The 2015 Bill had a smooth sail in both the Houses of Parliament because there was more than sufficient of the required two-third support. The TMC reportedly agreed to stand by the Government, and after the inclusion of Assam, the Congress too did not oppose.
The reason why Assam was initially left out, was probably due to pressure from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and also because of the State election due next year. The Chief Minister of Assam, Mr Tarun Gogoi, criticised the move and urged the Union Government to respect the principles of cooperative federalism. Assam was eventually included in the Bill, and it will gain around 700 acre in the land swap deal.
While finalising the Bill, Indian officials had said that their Bangladeshi counterparts had been informed about the development. However, the very following day, Bangladeshi officials stated that they had not received any formal communication about land-swapping. This shows a communication gap at diplomatic levels, and must be effectively and promptly addressed.
One fails to understand, what encouraged the BJP Government to bring the Bill so soon after opposing itIJ Also, what incentive prompted the TMC to agree to support the BillIJ Now, where is the Teesta River issueIJ Does it not hold any relevance for West Bengal, as it did in 2011, when Ms Mamata Banerjee refused to accompany Mr Manmohan Singh to Dhaka on the plea that she could not compromise with the interests of her StateIJ
As mentioned above, the lBA, after coming into force, will facilitate border demarcation between the two countries — exchange of enclaves and land in adverse possessions. It may also help curb cattle smuggling, gun running and other trans-border crimes especially in the enclave and char areas.
The pact will also ease the high-density and expensive deployment of about 11 battalions of Border Security Force, stationed there only to safeguard the enclaves. It will also lead to an end of the frequent skirmishes Indian security agencies have with the Bangladeshi border guards. But the managing of several hundred kilometres of porous and riverine India-Bangladesh border will remain a challenge.
The rivers and tributaries of the region will keep changing their course in future, thus making fencing difficult. As the centre of the common river is considered as the international border, the changed course will lead to confusion. It will create new areas as well as the quest for their possession.
The Bill gives freedom to the people living in enclaves to choose their nationality. The challenge would be to grant citizenship to nearly 50,000 people living in the enclaves. It is believed that, given the opportunity, a majority of the inhabitants of the enclaves of both the sides will opt for Indian citizenship. Hence, swapping of lands between 111 Indian and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves will be very difficult. The loss of many hundreds of acres of land will also add to the rehabilitation problem and the costs.
Mutual trust and cognisance of the shared history are essential for improved bilateral relations and efficient border management. It will also be in the Indian interest to not have contentious border issues with Bangladesh.
The Indian border with Pakistan is still manageable because it has almost an enemy situation and a heavy military deployment. India and China have far many mutual economic interests for them to engage in any direct confrontation.
Meanwhile, it is high time for Bangladesh to take serious steps against the illegal border-crossing of its people, because skirmishes on the almost-friendly border will have perennial problems for both — the domestic politics of either side as well as for sound bilateral relations.