PM Sheikh Hasina hails approval of Land Boundary deal as 'milestone' in Indo-Bangladesh ties

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has hailed the approval of Land Boundary Agreement bill by Indian parliament as a new milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two countries.

She said that through the passage of the bill, the commitment of two great leaders of the region as well as the world- Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Shrimati Indira Gandhi-had been materialized, reported The Daily Star.

Hasina extended her sincere greetings to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Pranab Mukherjee on her own behalf, the government and the people of Bangladesh. Terming the passage of the bill "a huge diplomatic success," she also congratulated Opposition Leader Sonia Gandhi, Indian government, members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as well as the people and administration of India.

The ruling Awami League's chief hoped that the ties between the two nations would be strengthened day by day. She directed the authorities to ensure the security and welfare of the enclave people.

The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Constitution 119th Amendment Bill on the land boundary agreement between India and Bangladesh.

The Bill was unanimously passed by the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday with 180 votes in favour and zero against it.

The LBA aims at the acquiring of territories by India and the transfer of territories to Bangladesh through retaining of adverse possession in pursuance of the 1974 agreement between the two nations. Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Meghalaya all fall under the bill.