Lalmonirhat, Oct 19 (bdnews24.com) — Prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said the difficulties over signing of Teesta deal and swapping enclaves with India will be overcome soon.
On a visit to Lalmonirhat on Wednesday to declare Tin Bigha corridor open round the clock, Hasina said, "India is a friendly country. We have good relations with them. I hope the Teesta deal will be signed soon."
The corridor connects Dahagram-Angorpota enclaves along the border.
Asked about enclaves, she said, "We are hopeful about this, too. I hope it (enclave swap) will start soon."
She arrived at the corridor around 12:45pm. Indian health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and state minister for home affairs Jitin Prasada welcomed her there.
Earlier, she inaugurated Dahagram-Angorpota power distribution line at Dahagram School ground.
After the inauguration, she assured residents of Dahagram-Angorpota enclaves that the government would provide all help to improve their living standard.
"Everything will be done to ensure your education, health, shelter and food. Those having no house will get houses for free," she said.
She emphasised on education to diminish poverty. "There is no alternative to education. So, a college and a madrasa will be built here."
"You have lived lives of prisoners for long. Your imprisonment has ended with the opening of the corridor 24 hours a day," she said.
Awami League's Dahagram unit president Mohammad Kamal Hossain presided over the inaugural function. Health minister A F M Ruhal Haque and state minister for power Enamul Huq accompanied the prime minister.
THE CORRIDOR
The corridor gate, which had always been shut after 6pm despite the 1974 treaty between India and Bangladesh, was thrown open at 6pm on Sep 8 following signing of a protocol during Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Dhaka.
The protocol to the 'Agreement Concerning the Demarcation between India and Bangladesh and Related Matters', signed on Sep 6, seeks to address all outstanding land boundary disputes for a final solution.
The corridor had so far been kept open from morning until evening to visit or come out of the enclaves falling under Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat. Now, it will be under the vigil of Indian security men.
Bangladesh was granted the route through the Indira Gandhi-Sheikh Mujibur Rahman treaty of 1974. But the authority remained with India, though Bangladesh in exchange for the enclaves had given South Berubari area.
See news details from: www.bdnews24.com
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