Figure 18 India- Bangladesh Border

THE INDIA-BANGLADESH BORDER

The Bangladesh–India border, also known locally as the International Border (IB), is an international border that runs between Bangladesh and India and divides the country into eight divisions and states. Bangladesh and India share a 4,096-kilometer-long (2,545-mile) international border, the world's fifth-longest land border, which includes 262 kilometres (163 miles) in Assam, 856 kilometres (532 miles) in Tripura, 318 kilometres (198 miles) in Mizoram, 443 kilometres (275 miles) in Meghalaya, and 2,217 kilometres (1,378 miles) in West Bengal. Bangladeshi divisions along the border include Mymensingh, Khulna, Rajshahi, Rangpur, Sylhet, and Chittagong.(MHA 2011)

Figure 18 India- Bangladesh Border

India and Bangladesh share both maritime and land borders. Since 1974, India and Bangladesh have engaged in eight rounds of bilateral negotiations, which have remained inconclusive until 2009, when both agreed to submit to arbitration under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. On July 7, 2014, the Arbitration Tribunal resolved the dispute in favour of Bangladesh, which was accepted amicably by both parties, effectively ending the dispute.

To begin, Sir Cyril Radcliffe of the Bengal Boundary Commission drew the India-Bangladesh

(formerly last Pal) border. On August 12, 1947, the commission submitted its report to the Governor General. Cyril Radcliffe noted that the province of Bengal provided very few, if any, satisfactory natural boundaries while delineating the India-East Bengal boundary. As a result, the border was drawn using old district maps. As a result, the boundary became circuitous. Instead of following natural barriers, it meanders through villages, agricultural lands, and rivers, making the border extremely porous and riddled with disputed areas. Enclaves' existence is prolonged because they are undermarketed (chit-mahals, and adverse possessions have been causing constant friction between the border guarding forces of India and Bangladesh.)

Road Linkages:(Sinha 2000)

Designated Integrated Check Posts (ICP, with both customs and immigration facilities) and Land Customs Stations (LCS) are:

• Assam

o Mankachar Land Customs Stations in India, as well as Rowmari Post (Bangladesh). o Karim Ganj–Beanibazar Upazila via Sutarkandi integrated check post crossing on

NH37 (India) and Sheola post crossing on NH37 (Bangladesh).

• West Bengal

o Crossing from Kolkata to Dhaka via Petrapole integrated check point o Malda–Rajshahi crossing via Mahadipur o Changrabandha Integrated check post

• Meghalaya

o Bagmara Land Customs Stations (India) and Bijoyour post (Bangladesh) o Borsara Land Customs Stations (India) and Borsara post (Bangladesh) o West Garo Hills–Bakshiganj via Mahendraganj crossing on NH1 o Tura–Nalitabari via Dalu crossing on NH217 (India) and Nakugaon post

(Bangladesh)

• Tripura o Agartala–Dhaka via Agartala integrated border check point (India) and Akhaura check post crossing o Santi bazar–Feni via Santi bazar integrated border check point road and railway crossing in South Tripura district

• Mizoram

o Kawarpuchiah integrated check post, opened in October 2017 by Prime Minister

Narendra Modi.