Sagar Biswas :
There are only a few hours remaining for the celebration of historic moment! The dwellers of 111 enclaves are now waiting for the first moment of August 1 [12:01 am, Saturday] to celebrate the day for their official recognition as citizens of Bangladesh.
From the day, there will be no enclave. The enclaves will stand exchanged on the midnight time. And automatically about 111 enclaves inside Bangladesh territory will emerge with the map of Bangladesh. So, there is a festive mood in each and every house.
Preparations have been taken by the enclave dwellers to make the celebration colourful and vibrant for the festivity. It will be a candle-lit night. Sixty-eight candles will be lightening on the first moment [12:01 am] of the day remembering the past 68 years of pain and sorrow. They enclave men termed it: ‘A journey to light from darkness’, as the word ‘enclave’ will take place in the books of history from now.
There will also be discussion meetings, cultural programmes, sports competition including lathi khela [traditional Bengali martial arts] and what not! Of them, the Bangladesh unit leaders have taken decision to hold biggest celebration programme at Dashiarchhara enclave.
“We will start celebration from Dashiarchhara of Kurigram district at 12:01 am of August 1. It will be followed in all 111 enclaves. Each enclave will light one torch after lighting 68 candles. Then all will render national anthem of Bangladesh,” said Abraham Lincoln, legal adviser of Bangladesh unit.
He said, “The rest other enclaves will also observe the event simultaneously. The people those have expressed their desire to become national of India will also join the celebration. The transfer of enclave residents is expected to be completed by November 30.”
According to the Land Boundary Agreement [LBA], Bangladesh and India will begin exchange of enclaves from July 31 midnight and already the enclave dwellers have chosen their nationality as per their wish during the joint survey conducted by the two countries.
“We are no more enclave dwellers from that day. We will be citizens of an independent country. This time we will observe August 1 just like Eid’s celebrations,” said Md Nuruzzaman Mia, a resident of Poaturkuthir enclave.
Echoing the same, Azizul Islam, General Secretary of Bangladesh-India Enclave Exchange Committee, said, “Now, the enclave word has been erased from the map. We are new born Bangladeshis. We will work together to build a prosperous Bangladesh.”
Divisional Commissioner of Rangpur Division Delwar Bakht said, “There is no government instruction. The enclaves will be automatically exchanged. Now we are discussing the land survey of the enclaves. We will complete land survey before November 30 and send papers to the relevant people by the time.”
“Even, the people who expressed their desire to go to India will be send there by issuing travel pass by November 30,” said the Divisional Commissioner.
On behalf the Coordination Committee for Exchange of Enclaves, advocate Abraham Lincoln of Bangladesh and journalist Deeptiman Sengupta of India will pay respect to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indira Gandhi for first signing LBA.
Later, they will convey gratitude to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Indian Premier Dr Manmohan Singh and incumbent Indian Premier Narendra Modi for their role to materialize the LBA, according to officials.
