Staff Reporter :
They are free from today (Saturday). They are the citizens of Bangladesh. They are celebrating the day with joy and festive mood.
The people of enclaves will get the facilities of an independent country as Bangladesh and India will hoist their national flags in their respective enclaves on August 1, ending decades of stateless miseries of more than 50,000 people.
The dwellers on both sides lighted 68 candles, released 68 balloons and exploded 68 firecrackers on July 31 midnight to mark the end of 68 years of statelessness.
According to the Foreign Ministry, 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India became Indian territory, while 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh became Bangladesh territory from the midnight of July 31.
The two High Commissioners of Bangladesh and India on Thursday signed 30 boundary strip maps in Dhaka.
India recently ratified the long-pending agreement, following which Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh last month.
Modi, along with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina, witnessed the exchange of letters on June 6, the first day of his two-day visit to Dhaka.
Transfer of territorial jurisdiction of adversely possessed lands also took effect from July 31 midnight.
Gazette notifications pertaining to territory have already leek issued by both the governments.
The residents, except for those who opted for moving to India, of Indian enclaves becoming Bangladesh territory would be given citizenship of Bangladesh.
Similarly, residents of Bangladesh enclaves becoming Indian Territory would be given Indian citizenship. The movement of people would take place between November 1 and November 30. The actual option taking exercise was carried out by 75 teams operating in the enclaves in India and Bangladesh from July 6-16.
Both the governments are working closely together to facilitate “trouble-free” movement of these residents and ensure safe, orderly and secure passage for the movement to the mainland, said the Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said on Thursday in a press release that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh on June 6-7, 2015, the Bangladeshi enclaves in India and Indian enclaves in Bangladesh shall stand
physically transferred to the other country with effect from the midnight of July 31, 2015. There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India which are to be exchanged pursuant to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol, instruments of ratification which were exchanged during Prime Minister Modi’s visit.
“Following the Prime Minister Modi’s visit, much work has gone into ascertaining the nationality options of the enclave residents. The Office of the Registrar General of India, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and DM, Cooch Behar and DCs of Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Kurigram and Nilphamari worked systematically and in a coordinated fashion to collect the options from the residents. The actual option taking exercise was carried out by 75 teams operating in the enclaves in India and Bangladesh from July 6-16, 2015. 30 observers from both Governments were also present in the enclaves during this survey period. Data from this joint exercise is now being verified by the Office of the Registrar General of India and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics,” the release said.
“After successfully completing the exercise of ascertaining nationality options of enclave residents, the ground has been prepared for the movement of such residents who exercise the option of moving from an Indian enclave to the Indian mainland. Both Governments are working closely together to facilitate trouble-free movement of these residents before the stipulated date of November 30, 2015,” it said.
“The day marks the resolution of a complex issue that has lingered since independence. It also marks the day from which enclave residents on both sides of the border will enjoy the benefits of nationality of India or Bangladesh, as the case may be, and thus access to civic services, education, healthcare and other facilities provided by the two Governments to their respective nationals,” it further said.
“Other steps with regard to implementation of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol are underway in accordance with agreed modalities between Government of India and Bangladesh,” it said.
On the other hand, it was celebration time for thousands of people living in the hitherto India-Bangladesh enclaves as they were awaiting the much-sought enclave swap between the two countries at one minute past midnight on Saturday, breaking the shackles of separation from their homelands.
The red disc will be on top of the green field as the national flag of Bangladesh will be hoisted in 111 enclaves inside the country in the zero hours while the tricolor of deep saffron, white and India green with the Ashoka Chakra in the centre hoisted in 51 enclaves inside India.
At Dasiarchhora enclave in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram, thousands of people will join the flag hoisting ceremony while the moment will also be marked by lighting 68 candles, releasing 68 balloons and exploding 68 firecrackers, symbolising the years of ambiguous existence of the people between the thin borderline of the two countries.
Most of them have opted to stay at the lands of their upbringing, embracing the choice of nationality offered to them by both the countries, while some of them have chosen otherwise to have new home on the other side of the border. “It’s not a question of shifting to India or not… we’re moving to India only for livelihood. We’ve been winning our breads by working in different places in India over the last 15 years,” said Hamida Hossain, wife of Mozammel Haque of Chairmentanary in Dasiarchhora enclave.
“We don’t get works here. India is a big country. Obviously, we’ll get opportunities of income generation there,” she continued.
While Hamida is shifting to India on her own choice, it was quite a different matter with Minu Begum and Shahana, both born and brought up in Bangladesh mainland, as their husbands have decided to move their families to India against their will.
When she was married off to Altaf of Dasiarchhora area, Shahana hoped that the enclave will become Bangladesh one day. Now that her hope has fulfilled, she has no reason to cherish as she has to move away from her paternal links at Kuthichandrakhana village in the district.
However, most people of the enclave have opted to stay at their ancestral places, embracing Bangladesh nationality. Of the 8,312 people living in the 12 enclaves in Phulbari and Bhuringamari upazilas of the district, 317 had opted for Indian nationality. Later, 33 of the 317 people changed their decision.
Maulana Mofazzal Islam, a medicine trader of Dashiarchhora enclave, said, “I was born here… I grew up inhaling the air, feeling the Sunlight of this land. I made friends, took my nourishment… all are linked to Bangladesh. Why should I move away from Bangladesh?”
“I don’t need any extra facility. I don’t want to be known as an outsider. Even if I get only rice and lentil soup here, it’ll be better because it’s my homeland,” said Mofazzal.
As a part of the process to implement the 1974 historic Land Boundary Agreement, the swap of enclaves between Bangladesh and India formally has been in effect from the wee hours of Friday, bringing an end to the 68-year statelessness of thousands of people.
They are free from today (Saturday). They are the citizens of Bangladesh. They are celebrating the day with joy and festive mood.
The people of enclaves will get the facilities of an independent country as Bangladesh and India will hoist their national flags in their respective enclaves on August 1, ending decades of stateless miseries of more than 50,000 people.
The dwellers on both sides lighted 68 candles, released 68 balloons and exploded 68 firecrackers on July 31 midnight to mark the end of 68 years of statelessness.
According to the Foreign Ministry, 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India became Indian territory, while 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh became Bangladesh territory from the midnight of July 31.
The two High Commissioners of Bangladesh and India on Thursday signed 30 boundary strip maps in Dhaka.
India recently ratified the long-pending agreement, following which Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Bangladesh last month.
Modi, along with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina, witnessed the exchange of letters on June 6, the first day of his two-day visit to Dhaka.
Transfer of territorial jurisdiction of adversely possessed lands also took effect from July 31 midnight.
Gazette notifications pertaining to territory have already leek issued by both the governments.
The residents, except for those who opted for moving to India, of Indian enclaves becoming Bangladesh territory would be given citizenship of Bangladesh.
Similarly, residents of Bangladesh enclaves becoming Indian Territory would be given Indian citizenship. The movement of people would take place between November 1 and November 30. The actual option taking exercise was carried out by 75 teams operating in the enclaves in India and Bangladesh from July 6-16.
Both the governments are working closely together to facilitate “trouble-free” movement of these residents and ensure safe, orderly and secure passage for the movement to the mainland, said the Foreign Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said on Thursday in a press release that during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh on June 6-7, 2015, the Bangladeshi enclaves in India and Indian enclaves in Bangladesh shall stand
physically transferred to the other country with effect from the midnight of July 31, 2015. There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India which are to be exchanged pursuant to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol, instruments of ratification which were exchanged during Prime Minister Modi’s visit.
“Following the Prime Minister Modi’s visit, much work has gone into ascertaining the nationality options of the enclave residents. The Office of the Registrar General of India, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and DM, Cooch Behar and DCs of Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Kurigram and Nilphamari worked systematically and in a coordinated fashion to collect the options from the residents. The actual option taking exercise was carried out by 75 teams operating in the enclaves in India and Bangladesh from July 6-16, 2015. 30 observers from both Governments were also present in the enclaves during this survey period. Data from this joint exercise is now being verified by the Office of the Registrar General of India and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics,” the release said.
“After successfully completing the exercise of ascertaining nationality options of enclave residents, the ground has been prepared for the movement of such residents who exercise the option of moving from an Indian enclave to the Indian mainland. Both Governments are working closely together to facilitate trouble-free movement of these residents before the stipulated date of November 30, 2015,” it said.
“The day marks the resolution of a complex issue that has lingered since independence. It also marks the day from which enclave residents on both sides of the border will enjoy the benefits of nationality of India or Bangladesh, as the case may be, and thus access to civic services, education, healthcare and other facilities provided by the two Governments to their respective nationals,” it further said.
“Other steps with regard to implementation of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol are underway in accordance with agreed modalities between Government of India and Bangladesh,” it said.
On the other hand, it was celebration time for thousands of people living in the hitherto India-Bangladesh enclaves as they were awaiting the much-sought enclave swap between the two countries at one minute past midnight on Saturday, breaking the shackles of separation from their homelands.
The red disc will be on top of the green field as the national flag of Bangladesh will be hoisted in 111 enclaves inside the country in the zero hours while the tricolor of deep saffron, white and India green with the Ashoka Chakra in the centre hoisted in 51 enclaves inside India.
At Dasiarchhora enclave in Phulbari upazila of Kurigram, thousands of people will join the flag hoisting ceremony while the moment will also be marked by lighting 68 candles, releasing 68 balloons and exploding 68 firecrackers, symbolising the years of ambiguous existence of the people between the thin borderline of the two countries.
Most of them have opted to stay at the lands of their upbringing, embracing the choice of nationality offered to them by both the countries, while some of them have chosen otherwise to have new home on the other side of the border. “It’s not a question of shifting to India or not… we’re moving to India only for livelihood. We’ve been winning our breads by working in different places in India over the last 15 years,” said Hamida Hossain, wife of Mozammel Haque of Chairmentanary in Dasiarchhora enclave.
“We don’t get works here. India is a big country. Obviously, we’ll get opportunities of income generation there,” she continued.
While Hamida is shifting to India on her own choice, it was quite a different matter with Minu Begum and Shahana, both born and brought up in Bangladesh mainland, as their husbands have decided to move their families to India against their will.
When she was married off to Altaf of Dasiarchhora area, Shahana hoped that the enclave will become Bangladesh one day. Now that her hope has fulfilled, she has no reason to cherish as she has to move away from her paternal links at Kuthichandrakhana village in the district.
However, most people of the enclave have opted to stay at their ancestral places, embracing Bangladesh nationality. Of the 8,312 people living in the 12 enclaves in Phulbari and Bhuringamari upazilas of the district, 317 had opted for Indian nationality. Later, 33 of the 317 people changed their decision.
Maulana Mofazzal Islam, a medicine trader of Dashiarchhora enclave, said, “I was born here… I grew up inhaling the air, feeling the Sunlight of this land. I made friends, took my nourishment… all are linked to Bangladesh. Why should I move away from Bangladesh?”
“I don’t need any extra facility. I don’t want to be known as an outsider. Even if I get only rice and lentil soup here, it’ll be better because it’s my homeland,” said Mofazzal.
As a part of the process to implement the 1974 historic Land Boundary Agreement, the swap of enclaves between Bangladesh and India formally has been in effect from the wee hours of Friday, bringing an end to the 68-year statelessness of thousands of people.
