7 JUNE 2015: LBA comes into action.. Historic act

Ø  In a historic step towards improving ties, India and Bangladesh exchanged the instruments of ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement on Saturday, promising an end to the “stateless existence” of more than 50,000 people in 162 enclaves on both sides of the border. Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar and his Bangladeshi counterpart, M. Shahidul Haque, signed the documents and exchanged the modalities for implementing the deal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladeshi counterpart, Sheikh Hasina, and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were present. The deal, signed in 1974, entered the process of implementation after Parliament ratified it in May. The two countries signed 22 agreements and memorandums of understanding on economic cooperation, trade and investment, security, infrastructure development, education, science and technology, information technology and culture to take their ties to new heights. Mr. Modi, Ms. Hasina and Ms. Banerjee flagged off the Kolkata-Dhaka-Agartala and the Dhaka-Shillong-Guwahati bus services in a gesture of what External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup described as “Connecting lands, binding hearts”. Before official talks at the Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s Office, Mr. Modi and Ms. Hasina had a 40-minute one-on-one meeting. Ms. Hasina thanked the Indian government, people and all political parties for their support for the ratification of the LBA. The ratification was “a great diplomatic success” for the two governments, she said in a joint statement. She commemorated the role of Bangladesh’s founding father, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Pranab Mukherjee in reaching the agreement.

Ø  Bangladesh will open a mission in Guwahati and India will open its in Khulna and Sylhet. The two sides agreed to establish special Indian economic zones in Mongla and Bheramara. The two countries could reach a fair solution on the sharing of waters of the Teesta and the Feni rivers. Mr. Modi presented Ms. Hasina a tapestry from Venkatagiri in Andhra Pradesh, hand-woven in the Jamdani style, the famous traditional sari of Bangladesh, Mr. Modi said on his personal website posting a photograph of the work.

Ø  Central Board of Trustees of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation has decided to park 5 per cent of its funds in the equity market. Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the decision was in line with the suggestions made by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely that the EPFO invest up to 15 per cent of its funds in the equity market.

Ø  Dhaka Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will give “an exquisite Jamdani sari” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Ø  Mr. Modi reached the national memorial at Savar on the outskirts of Dhaka at 11.20 a.m. He placed wreaths in tribute the martyrdom of the freedom fighters during the war against Pakistan. Mr. Modi will offer prayers at the Dhakeshwari Temple and the Ramakrishna Mission. He will visit the Indian High Commission’s New Chancery Complex at Baridhara. He will meet President Mohammed Abdul Hamid and receive the Award of Liberation War Honour on behalf of the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and attend a private lunch hosted by the President. Leader of the Opposition Raushon Ershad will call on him at his suite before he delivers a public speech at 6.30 p.m.