CALCUTTA,(PTI): The Tinbigha corridor was recently leased to Bangladesh for 99 years, in tune with the 1974 international agreement between India and Bangladesh, ending the controversy and protest raging over it for the past one year, according to reports reaching here.

 The long delayed implementation of the agreement on the 187 meter by 85 meter corridor was solemnized with the crossover of officials and civilians of both countries for an hour only, amidst tight security.

 With the opening of the east west gates, the district magistrate of Bangladesh’s Lalmonirhat, Khalil ur Rahman accompanied by his retinue of officials and that of Cooch Behar, S  Gopalkrishna and his officials crossed over.

 According to the modalities of the agreement formalized by the governments of the two countries m March 26, the movement of Bangladesh nationals along the corridor would be regulated to avoid intermingling with Indian nationals.

 The chief minister, Jyoti Basu, who made the formal announcement in the assembly in the afternoon of the formal leasing of the Vinbigha to Bangladesh, was cheered by members amidst the thumping of desks.

 Basu said that further discussions   would be held between the Cooch Behar and Lalmonirhat administration on future steps.

He said that one incident was reported at a place some distance from Tinbigha where 543 Bajranj Bali activists carrying lathis were arrested when they squatted on the road. The lathis of the activists were taken away by the police. Further details were awaited. ‘The accord on the leasing signed by the then prime ministers of India and Bangladesh, Indira

Gandhi and Sheik Mujibur Rahman in 1974, had a long pasIndian counts.

It was agreed by the two countries that residents of Angrapota and Dahagram enclaves Bangladesh would be provided passage to the Bangladesh mainland through the corridor,

India, however, would retain its sovereignty, ownership and control over Tinbigha.

The district magistrate of Cochlear, S. Goplakrishna, said police burst teargas squibs and opened fire when anti-accord activists showered a hail of arrows on the security forces in a bid to proceed to the Tinbigha corridor, two hours before the formal leasing.

Nearly 3,000 anti-accord activitis, including main opposition, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers, were arrested in Coochbehar and adjoining districts.

Meanwhile, the west Bengal government in a statement issued in Calcutta described as “totally false and baseless” the rumors being spread by some quarters that “houses of Hindus” were attacked at Dahagram-Angrapota.

A meeting would be held on July 2 between officials of the two countries to finalize permanent arrangements by which Bangladeshis would be able to use the corridor for six hours a day, the district. ~—s magistrate, Coochbehar, said.

The accord on the lease signed by the then prime ministers of India and Bangladesh, Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1974, had a long passage through Indian courts.

It was agreed by the two countries that residents of Angrapota and Dahagram enclaves of Bangladesh would be provided passage to the Bangladesh mainland through the corridor. India, however, would retain its sovereignty, ownership and control over Tinbigha.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 10, 1994