India to ratify land boundary deal soon

Visiting Indian Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh yesterday assured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement 1974 and its protocol in the Indian parliament as soon as possible.
The Indian minister, who is now in Dhaka to attend an international seminar, gave the assurance when he met the prime minister at her official residence Gono Bhaban.
As the prime minister stressed the need for early ratification of the agreement and protocol, the Indian minister assured that the two instruments would be ratified in the Indian parliament very soon, PM's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad said.
Demarcation of land boundary between Bangladesh and India and exchange of the areas of adverse possession are crucial for a satisfactory resolution and implementation of the decisions taken during the visit of the Indian prime minister to Dhaka in September last year, Sheikh Hasina said.
Abul Kalam Azad said Jairam Ramesh urged the industrial entrepreneurs of Bangladesh to invest in the north-eastern states of India.
Sheikh Hasina hoped that all pending issues between Bangladesh and India would be resolved at an early date as both countries have domestic political compulsions.
Some choices were difficult, but we have taken several bold decisions on relations with India, she said.