Dhaka, Delhi working to implement LBA: FM

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UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh and India are now working on the ‘modalities’ for implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement and its protocol to ensure legal rights of the citizens living on both sides of the border, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said here on Saturday.
“We would like to complete the implementation process as soon as possible,” he said while addressing a seminar in Dhaka arranged by the Bangladesh-India Friendship Society.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran, former Bangladeshi ambassador Muhammad Zamir, and Maj Gen (Retd) Abdur Rashid, a security specialist, were the speakers at the seminar, while Environment and Forest Secretary Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed presented the keynote paper.
President of the Society Prof Dr AK Azad Chowdhury presided over the seminar while Barrister Tania Amir moderated it.
The Foreign Minister said the implementation of the LBA would ensure legal rights for the people who are living miserably, including voting rights, and it will have positive impact on border management between the two countries.
He highly appreciated the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and mentioned that his ‘statesmanlike’ leadership helped resolve the LBA.
Mahmood Ali said both the countries have a common focus on socioeconomic development and the settlement of the LBA would help move forward towards the next level of engagements, and the relationship will reach newer heights through cooperation in new areas.
Pankaj Saran said the settlement of the LBA is a reflection of India’ s commitment to strengthen its relations with Bangladesh. He also said India has adopted an approach to get concrete outcomes.
The Indian envoy said India is now in a position to workout modalities to implement the LBA apart from completing necessary documentation. He said the Indian government is now in touch with Bangladesh government to that end.
Pankaj Saran said the implementation of the LBA will help reduce criminal and illegal activities along the border and reiterated the Bangladesh foreign minister’s view on overall border management.
Terming the settlement of the LBA as a milestone in Bangladesh-India relations, the envoy said they look forward to further strengthening ties with Bangladesh. He said since both countries face similar challenges, they will have to work together to overcome those ensuring improvement in people’s lifestyles.
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