bdnews24.com :The India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement, when implemented, does promise a national identity for the residents of the enclaves up for swap, but they are worried over their lands.”In 1947, most lands here were sold off by the Hindus as they moved to the Indian mainland. We bought and used them for cultivation,” Md Alim Uddin, a resident of Chhoto Garholjorha-2 enclave in Kurigram’s Bhurungamari Upazila, told bdnews24.com. Alim, a resident of India’s ‘Goyabarhi’ before 1947, moved to ‘Ajbarhi’ in Bangladesh.”We bought this land from Bangladeshis at one point. But while the original Hindu owners had registered their sale in India, we could not register our purchase as Bangladeshis cannot go to India,” said Alim.”There were no other documents. We bought it on word of faith.”Many we bought the land from have died. Their children are here. If they claim the land after this becomes Bangladesh, what would we do?” said Alim.His neighbour, Md Mohiuddin says: “Many say we would have to buy the same land all over again when this becomes Bangladesh.”Md Nurul Islam, a resident of Banashchapai Bhitor Kuthir enclave in Kulaghat Union of Lalmonirhat, said they were descendants of bonded labourers of Cooch Bihar’s Maharajah. They maintained possession of the land by paying taxes to the Maharajah’s estate and later to the Indian government. But that was discontinued after border complications.”If you do not pay taxes regularly, you lose ownership of the land. We paid taxes regularly. After the Bangladesh’s liberation, my uncle was going to pay taxes. But he was detained by the BSF at the border and sent to prison.”Islam said their family stopped paying taxes after their uncle spent three months in prison. “Recent cases like that led other enclave residents to stop paying taxes.””Many of us have all the old documents. But the taxes are pending. Many of these lands have also changed hands, with only agreements signed on government stamp paper.”It was a little different for Dulal Hossain, a resident of Upenchouki enclave in Lalmonirhat’s Patgram. He was born during the 1971 Liberation War and his father died soon after.His elder brother Khalilur Rahman moved to Cooch Bihar not being able to cope with the pressures of living in an enclave. His two sisters were married off in India. Another brother Jahidul Islam lives in an Indian enclave.
