The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs has asked the NDA Government at the Centre to introduce a Constitution Amendment Bill to ratify the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement at the earliest.
In its report submitted to Lok Sabha yesterday, the standing committee, which is headed by Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, said the Constitution (One Hundred and Nineteenth Amendment) Bill, 2013 is in the national interest, as it will pave the way for broader bilateral ties with Bangladesh.
The standing committee has asked the government to carry out effective consultations with the concerned state governments to ensure smooth implementation of the agreement.
The standing committee also asked the government to keep a blue print ready for development of Bangladeshi enclaves which will be ceded to India. It also urged the government to address all issues related to the rehabilitation of the people returning to Indian Territory.
It urged the Centre to take measures to check bonafides of Bangladeshi residents who shall be given Indian citizenship, and to ensure adequate safeguards for the Indian nationals who will be staying back in Bangladesh after the implementation of the accord.
India and Bangladesh had agreed to transfer their lands in adverse possession to straighten the zig-zag border.