UNB, Dhaka :Terming it a historical event, BNP and its chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday expressed happiness over the freedom of around 52,000 people following the formal swap of 162 enclaves between Bangladesh and India.The party also welcomed the new citizens of the country following the amalgamation of 111 enclaves with Bangladesh territories.”Today is a glorious day in our national life. When the clock struck a minute past midnight yesterday (Friday), 162 enclaves between Bangladesh and India were revoked. The flags of the two countries were hoisted there as the enclave people got back their citizenships followingthe Indian parliament’s ratification of the historic Land Boundary Agreement,” said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.Addressing a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, the BNP leader further said, “Our chairperson Khaleda Zia and we as well are cheerful over the l68 years’ tear-soaked freedom of 52,000 people. The new citizens of Bangladesh will merge with our mainstream ones. It’s an historical incident.”He said, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia also greeted those residents of 111 enclaves for becoming Bangladesh citizens. The dwellers of previous 111 Bangladeshi enclaves celebrated the historic swap of the enclaves with India by hoisting the Bangladeshi national flag in their land at one minute past on Saturday morning.As part of the process to implement the 1974 historic Land Boundary Agreement, Bangladesh and India formally exchanged their enclaves in the wee hours of Saturday, bringing an end to the 68-year statelessness of thousands of people.With the midnight swap, the 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India have become Indian territories while 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh the Bangladesh territories.Ripon said, their party chairperson urged the government to ensure all the civic amenities and government facilities for the new citizens of the country by immediately taking development projects for them.”We call upon the government to take all necessary steps for ensuring education, healthcare and economic development of the people of enclaves merged with Bangladesh territories. The government must take prompt measures so that the new citizens can enjoy all the sate facilities like the mainstream people.”Ripon, on behalf of BNP, also greeted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian politicians to help ratify the Land Boundary Agreement in their parliaments, ending 52,000 people’s 68-year-long life of identity crisis and deprivation.
