Letter of Foreign Secretary of India Implementing Tin Bigha Lease, 26 March, 1992
New Delhi
26th March 1992Excellency,
I have the honour to refer to item 14 of Article 1 of the Agreement of 16th May, 1974, signed by the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh concerning the demarcation of the land boundary between India and Bangladesh and related matters, and the Exchange of Letters dated 7 October, 1982, between the Minister of External Affairs of India and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, regarding the terms of lease in perpetuity of the Tin Bigha Area. This is to confirm that in the subsequent discussions regarding the modalities for leasing out the above-mentioned area, the following understanding has been reached:
Indian flags will fly at the four corners of the Tin Bigha corridor as a manifestation of India's sovereignty over the area; An East-West road to connect Dahagram (Bangladesh) with Patgram (Bangladesh) will be constructed by India before 26th June 1992 roughly at right angles to the existing North-South road. The new East-West road is to conform to the specifications and width of the existing North-South road; Landscaping (horticulture) protected by fencing, on both sides, of the proposed road, is to be carried out and maintained by India, so as to prevent the possibility of encroachment and infiltration, keeping adequate provision for drains, laying of cables, water-supply etc., in future; Two check points each are to be set up at both ends of the East-West road where it touches the Bangladesh boundary. They will be separately manned by Indian and Bangladesh authorities with a view to regulating the movement of traffic; Traffic in the corridor will be regulated by the Indian authorities, and the opening and closing of the check points on the East-West road will be coordinated accordingly in such a manner that there is no intermixing of Indian and Bangladeshi streams of traffic; At the intersection, i.e., the specific point where East-West road will cross the North-South road, there will be an Indian traffic Police control to direct the traffic movement; Indian traffic movement on the North-South road will continue as heretofore. Bangladesh traffic will use the East-West road in the corridor at alternate hours during the daylight period. However, exceptions will be made at the local level to the above arrangements in cases of emergency, such as natural calamities, movement of civil administrators and medical emergencies; Suitable lighting arrangements will be made for the entire corridor in order to facilitate monitoring by security agencies on both sides; Differences, if any, regarding modalities for implementing the terms of lease will be resolved in the first instance through consultations between the Deputy Commissioner of Cooch Behar (India) and the Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat (Bangladesh). Remaining differences, if any, will be referred to their respective Governments for resution; India and Bangladesh will provide mutual judicial assistance to each other to the extent necessary, in all matters relating to the prosecution, trails, etc. concerning incidents constituting offences in the leased area; Agreed arrangements will come into effect from 26th June, 1992. I shall be grateful if Your Excellency could confirm that the above sets out correctly the understanding reached between out our two Governments.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
(J.N Dixit)
Foreign SecretaryH. E. Mr. A. H. Mahmood Ali,
Additional Foreign Secretary,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh