Jt survey of Padua-Protappur borders finally complete
Indo-Bangla joint survey of the much-talked Padua-Protappur borders was finally completed yesterday.
ADC Revenue, Sylhet Ahmed Shamim Al Razi, who is coordinating the survey, told this correspondent yesterday evening that the job ended yesterday after three days of hectic work.
However, he could not say how many acres of Bangaldesh were found as 'adversely possessed land' (APL) on that border.
"It would take 2-3 days to determine that as the survey officials would sit and finalise their measurements to ascertain the area," he said.
The official further informed that the joint survey on the Noagaon border in Beanibazar upazila would also be completed in a couple of days while the survey on the Pallathal border in Barlekha upazila under Moulvibazar district ended Monday.
Around 140 acres of Bangladesh land had been under the Indians' occupation on Noagaon frontier while 360 acres on Pallathol border.
Another 120 acres of Bangladesh land are possessed by Indians for decades on Lobhhachhara border in Kanaighat upazila of Sylhet, he added.
The joint survey of the adversely possessed lands (APL) on Padua-Protappur borders stumbled several times since the work began in December last year.
More than 200 acres of Bangladesh land on the border had been under Indians' possession for long.
The border guards of both the countries traded gunfire several times over the issue.
In 2001, the then BDR took control of a part of the area, but they had to retreat after some days.
The recent stalemate prevailed for weeks as Bangladesh officials could not agree with the Indians over survey points on the APL.
Sources said the Indians wanted to start survey from several points without any supporting documents and ignoring the existing border pillars, set in 1947.
The regional survey team informed the higher authorities of the matter and sought their guidelines. The survey team was changed thrice since the job began on December 7 last year.
Earlier, in the wake of repeated incidents of intrusion for paddy crops and fishing as well as killing of Bangladesh nationals by the BSF and by the Indian Khasia tribesmen, the authorities decided for joint survey on the Jaintapur, Gowainghat and Kanaighat borders.
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