Readers' Forum
Diplomacy can resolve many disputes
The passing of the Indira-Mujib boundary agreement of 1974 that proposed an exchange of enclaves in the both Houses of the Indian Parliament testifies that diplomacy, not warfare, can resolve many international disputes. The treaty was also known as the Indira-Mujib Treaty, after the signatories of the treaty the Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi and the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1974.
There are 14,000 nowhere people who live in 51 Bangladeshi enclaves dotted along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district. These are people who do not have ration cards, and are denied of basic government facilities like health, water, electricity and schooling. They say, we want rights to basic human needs, not money.
However, since India delayed for 41 years to ratify the agreement, it depends upon the Indian government to translate the LBA into reality. We do not want to see its fate like the river of Padma, wherefrom blows the hot wind only with dusts and sands.
Since the Indian Prime Minister has shown his will to resolve all disputes with Bangladesh peacefully, we want to believe that Bangladesh will be getting its due share of water as per treaty signed in 1996.
In this connection, I take the opportunity to request the Indian PM to exert his pressure on the Border Security Force of India not to kill Bangladeshi nationals at per its sweet will. We want friends, not malice, because long standing dispute between the two neighbouring countries does not bring good results in the length. We hope for the best.
There are 14,000 nowhere people who live in 51 Bangladeshi enclaves dotted along the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar district. These are people who do not have ration cards, and are denied of basic government facilities like health, water, electricity and schooling. They say, we want rights to basic human needs, not money.
However, since India delayed for 41 years to ratify the agreement, it depends upon the Indian government to translate the LBA into reality. We do not want to see its fate like the river of Padma, wherefrom blows the hot wind only with dusts and sands.
Since the Indian Prime Minister has shown his will to resolve all disputes with Bangladesh peacefully, we want to believe that Bangladesh will be getting its due share of water as per treaty signed in 1996.
In this connection, I take the opportunity to request the Indian PM to exert his pressure on the Border Security Force of India not to kill Bangladeshi nationals at per its sweet will. We want friends, not malice, because long standing dispute between the two neighbouring countries does not bring good results in the length. We hope for the best.
Abdullah Akber
Dhaka
