LOC10:28
07:28 GMT
NEW DELHI, Aug 1 (KUNA) -- India and Bangladesh on Friday midnight swapped 156 border settlements which were formed following local peace treaties in the 18th century with around 50,000 inhabitants.
Indian External Affairs Ministry said in a release that July 31st is a historic day due to the swap of border land pockets which will enable the inhabitants to acquire citizenship of either countries.
During the visit of Prime Minister Narenrda Modi to Bangladesh in June, the final land agreement was signed and relevant documents exchanged papers, helping to end 41-years long border dispute. The Bangladeshi authorities had ratified the Land Boundary Agreement way back in 1974 - three years after independence from Pakistan - but the Indian Parliament approved the same in May.
The people living in the settlements in border areas were not receiving any of the vital government services as both the governments hesitated to integrate or fully rejecting the residents in these settlements.
India hands over 111 settlements in the border to Bangladesh and receives 55 from the neighboring country. This is expected to end illegal migration across the four-thousand kilometers porous border by fixing a permanent border.
Flags of respective countries were hoisted in the enclaves on both the sides soon after the agreement came into effect at Friday midnight. In response to the option given by both the governments, most of the residents have opted to remain in their current places and acquired new citizenship in either India or Bangladesh. (end)
atk.gta