The Indian side placed a package formula for demarcating 6.5 kilometres of undemarcated border mostly in their favour prior to resolving the other issues. But the Bangladesh side did not accept it and asked for a comprehensive solution to all the issues, highly placed sources said.

At a press briefing, the JBWG members however claimed to have a positive discussion, saying they have decided to meet once a year and agreed to schedule a visit to the enclaves and adversely held territories to work out a solution to the issues of dispute.

Both the sides hoped the visit would take place before the next JBWG meeting.

The two sides agreed to hold the next JBWG meeting in New Delhi at a mutually convenient date to be decided through diplomatic channel.

Resumption of the JBWG talks after four years got green signal from premiers of the two countries during Khaleda Zia's March 20-22 visit to India.

Although the Dhaka meeting created frustration among different quarters for failure to reach a solution to the boundary issues, the JBWG expressed satisfaction over its outcome.

"Importance of the meeting lies in the fact that it is taking place after four years and in an excellent atmosphere. We were able to appreciate each other’s point of view and tried to understand position of each other," said Mohan Kumar, joint secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs, India.

The third of its kind, the JBWG meeting was held at State Guest House Meghna with Home Ministry Joint Secretary (Political) Akhtar Ahmed leading the 19-member Bangladesh delegation and Mohan Kumar heading the 16-member Indian side.

There are 3-km of undemarcated border at Lathitila in Kulaura in Sylhet, 2 km at Muhurirchar in Porshuram, Feni and 1.5 km at Daikhata-Dumabari at Berubari in Lalmonirhat.

Although there are clear guidance in the Bangladesh-India Land Boundary Agreement signed on May 16, 1974, by the then prime ministers Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indira Gandhi for resolution of the problems, the dispute continues due to non-ratification of the agreement by India.

Bangladesh ratified the agreement through the Third Amendment to the Constitution on November 28, 1974.

At the Dhaka meeting, Bangladesh side placed past and present records, documents and maps to oppose the Indian team when it asked for demarcating the 6.5km border in their favour prior to settling the other issues, said meeting sources.

When Bangladesh raised the issue of ratifying the 1974 agreement, the Indian side reiterated its precondition of demarcating the 6.5km border, which they placed at the second JBWG meeting.

"The issues are a legacy of the past and are complex and difficult and it will be a mistake if anyone thinks these can be solved in six or 12 months," Mohan Kumar told reporters when asked about the long delay in settling the issues.

He however avoided replying to a query on barriers to resolution of the issues and said, "Only five years passed since formation of the JBWG. We've made progress and will meet now every year. The regular meeting itself constitutes a pressure point."

He went on, "What we've agreed today is a beginning of a process which, we are hopeful, will lead to an eventual settlement of the issues."

Akhtar Ahmed termed the issue of barriers 'irrelevant' and said, "Let us look forward rather than to the past."

Bangladesh officials pointed out that non-implementation of the 1974 agreement is the cause of occasional outbreak of fierce skirmishes along the border.

"India is yet to allow our people unfettered access to the Tin-Bigha corridor," a foreign ministry official told The Daily Star yesterday pointing out India's disregard to the 1974 agreement.