JS Hails Indian People, PM Narendra Modi For Approving LBA

Members of Parliament (MPs) form both treasury and opposition benches unanimously expressed their heartiest gratitude to the Government of India for paving the way for ensuring a new life with a new identity of about 0.50 lakh people in 152 enclaves in the territories of Bangladesh and India.

The lawmakers took part in a discussion as Chief Whip ASM Feroz placed a thanks giving motion in the House as per a notice under the Rules of Procedure 147 (1) with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

The MPs described the LBA as a milestone in the history as it is not a mere agreement between the two neighbourng countries but also an evidence bearing the age-old friendship between Bangladesh and India that was rooted by two leaders - Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the then India Prime Minister Indira Gandhi

Taking part in the discussion, Deputy Speaker Advocate Fazley Rabbi Miah gratefully recalled the contribution of Indian people in the 1971 War of Liberation and also in the recent time in ratifying the LBA through amending their (Indian) Constitution.

He said the LBA issue pending for 41 years between the two territories would now be resolved as a result of the frantic efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

"Mr Modi earned the unanimous support of the chief ministers of four Indian provinces -West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam and Tripura in this regard . . . We thank all of them and the people of India for playing a very positive role on this important issue," he mentioned.

He categorically said that this treaty got ratification in the Indian Loksabha and Rajyasabha due to the frantic efforts of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinato materialize the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who signed it with his Indian counterpart Indira Gandhi in 1974.

Treasury bench member and Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu hailed Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman for signing LBA with India and said his daughter Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina now turned it into reality.

"We are really proud of our leader Sheikh Hasina as Bangladesh achieved many successes including the Ganges water treaty, maritime boundary from India with Myanmar and celebration of 21st February as the International Mother Language Day," he mentioned.

Amu criticized the role of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and said mass people rejected the destructive politics of BNP in the meantime.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her relentless efforts through different diplomatic channels to bring the LBA into reality through the approval of the Indian authority.

He also thanked the Indian Premier, members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for their cooperation in ratifying the Mujib-Indira agreement signed in 1974.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon greeted the members of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha for ratifying the Land Boundary Agreement that provides for exchange of enclaves after a long time.

Treasury bench lawmaker Suranjit Sengupta lauded the role of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in getting the LBA approved in both the houses of India and said under her leadership Bangladesh has now been able to achieve an accurate map in the world history.

"The Bengali nation is really proud of Sheikh Hasina," he added.

Referring to the LBA, senior parliamentarian Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim said, "had Awami League been not in power, it would have been impossible to resolve this longstanding problem."

Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim was very critical about BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda for not hailing this historic achievement earned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who played a key role to get the LBA ratified in the Indian parliament.

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said the major credit goes to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as the LBA issue has now been settled through her initiatives after 41 years between Bangladesh and India.

She mentioned the tremendous success of Sheikh Hasina's government in ensuring the legitimate right of the Ganges water in 1996, victory over the maritime boundary with India and Myanmar and ratification of the LBA by India.

Foreign Minister Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali said, "What the Indian authorities, especially its Prime Minister Narendra Modi, members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and their people, have done for Bangladesh is definitely added a new era in our friendship and bilateral relations."

Former President and Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad said the much-talked LBA would help ensure a better and secured life of the hitherto underprivileged people inside the enclaves both in Bangladesh and India.

"This land boundary agreement added a new chapter in the history of Bangladesh and India that has earlier initiated by Bangabandhu and Indira Gandhi," he said lauding the outstanding leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who made it possible through her tremendous initiative.

He also thanked the Indian government and its people saying, "They (Indians) have further proved their sincerity and support for the people of Bangladesh as true friends and well-wishers.

The opposition bench member was also critical about the vested quarters who took an anti-LBA stance earlier and said, "Critics' mouths have been stopped soon after the ratification of the agreement."

Calling Sheikh Hasina an efficient and charismatic leader, the former president said, "History will give you a respectful place as you have done a lot to return the citizens' right in the enclaves of India and Bangladesh."

Ershad hoped that the Teesta water-sharing issue would also be resolved under her (Hasina) leadership.

Lawmakers Mainuddin Khan Badol, Dr Hasan Mahmud, Khaled Mahmud Chowdhury, Tahjib Alam Siddiqu, Nurul Islam Sujon and Mothar Hossain also attended the discussion.