DHAKA, May 11, 2015 (BSS) - The cabinet today adopted a thanksgiving motion on the ratification of the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) in Indian parliament, terming it as an "epoch-making incident".
"The ratification of the LBA in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha is an "epoch-making incident" in terms of improving relations between Bangladesh and India as well as regional cooperation and considering the welfare of the two next-door neighbours," the motion said.
The motion was adopted at the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet held at Bangladesh Secretariat today with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair
Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hussain Bhuiyan informed this while briefing reporters after the cabinet meeting.
"It's a great achievement, and through it, a 68-year-old problem since 1947 has been solved. It's a huge diplomatic success.... it's also a political success for both Bangladesh and Indian governments," he said.
Bhuiyan said another significance of the ratification of the deal in Indian parliament is that the bill was passed unanimously. "Big parties like BJP and Congress voted in favour of the bill ... even minor parties also gave vote for passage of the bill," he said.
The Indian Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha unanimously ratified the landmark bill on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.
The ratification was made by Indian lower house and upper house to settle the more than four-decades-old land boundary and enclave exchange issue in line with the historic Mujib-Indira Agreement, 1974 and the protocol signed between Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indian Premier Dr Manmohan Singh in 2011.
The cabinet secretary said there is another significance that the Indian government has created a consensus to strengthen ties with Bangladesh government and it reflects the strong political will of the Indian people.
Considering these aspects, he said, the cabinet today extended its heartiest thanks to Indian government, the people and parliament for ratifying the historic and landmark deal between the two countries.
In this connection, the cabinet also extended its heartiest congratulations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, saying that the ratification of the LBA in Indian parliament has been possible thanks to her dynamic, strong and farsighted leadership.
The cabinet also greeted all concerned involved in the process.
Bhuiyan said the cabinet also adopted a thanksgiving motion on the victory of three Bangladesh-origin politicians in the May 7 parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom, describing it as "exciting" for Bangladesh.
Tulip Rizwana Siddique, granddaughter of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a niece of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Rushanara Ali and Dr Rupa Huq, all from Labour Party, were elected in the UK parliamentary polls, creating a history.
"It's a matter of happiness and pride for the people of all strata of Bangladesh that a descendant of the Father of the Nation has been elected for the first time in the parliament of another country," he said.
The cabinet secretary said: "The British once used to rule us. But Bangladesh-origin is now part of political power of Britain. It's a matter of joy... exciting."
