New Delhi, June 12
In a bid to resolve the unresolved issues of the more than 4000-km common border, India and Bangladesh today began discussions to finalise the terms of reference for the two joint boundary working groups. 

Briefing newspersons about the first round of the two-day talks, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said here the discussions between the two delegations were held in a cordial atmosphere and in a constructive manner. “It is our expectation that terms of reference would be finalised during this round of talks”, the spokesman said.

At the outset, the two sides acknowledged the joint work done by the Surveys of the two countries in

 demarcating the long land boundary between India and Bangladesh, the spokesman said adding that further discussions focused on finalising the terms of reference that India had proposed for the two joint boundary working groups which were set up during the then Bangladesh Foreign Secretary C.M. Sfafi’s visit to New Delhi on December 13-14 last year. Soon thereafter in February this year, India had sent a draft of terms of reference to Dhaka but for reasons best known to Bangladesh there was no response from across the border.

Unresolved issues, including the 6.5 km undemarcated border, exchange of enclaves and territory in adverse possession of each other came again under sharp focus and media attention after the tragic incidents at the common border in Pyrdiwah and Boraibari in April this year. While the Indian side was led by Ms Meira Shankar, Joint Secretary in the External Affairs Ministry, the 11-member Bangladesh delegation was headed by Mr Janibul Haque, a Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry.

The talks would continue tomorrow.

Both the sides would discuss, during the two-day parleys, matters relating to exchange of enclaves and adversely possessed land by the two countries in the context of a 1974 agreement, official sources said.

Both Indian and Bangladeshi teams have representatives from Departments of Land Records and Survey, the High Commissions, Ministries of Law, Water Resources and Home Affairs and BSF and the BDR.