bdnews24.com :Biplob Hossain’s father fought for Bangladesh’s liberation in 1971 but he spent the last 42 years as an Indian citizen in an enclave inside Bangladesh.As the exchange of enclaves draws near, he says he wants to spend his remaining days as a Bangladeshi citizen.Bdnews24.com spoke with many enclave residents who say they are confused about whether to become Indian citizens or remain in Bangladesh.Indian parliament has ratified the Land Boundary Agreement bill, paving way for solving the nagging problem that had crept up since British India’s partition in 1947.Once the agreement is implemented, the countries will exchange 162 enclaves and their residents will be allowed to choose nationality.According to a joint India-Bangladesh headcount in mid-2011, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves have around 14,000 residents while 111 Indian enclaves are home to 37,000.Hossain lives in Garholjorha-2 enclave, also known as Elengbarhi enclave, in Kurhigram with his wife and three children.He will have to leave it if he opts for Indian citizenship but can continue to live there if he chooses to become a Bangladeshi citizen.”I want to stay here as my father Md Nuruzzaman was a freedom fighter,” Hossain tells bdnews24.com.He does not get Bangladesh government facilities provided to families of freedom fighters.Hossain, who can barely be on his feet, says he went to New Delhi once and worked there for about nine months.He cultivates a piece of land he inherited from his father to support his family.”I won’t go to India if Bangladesh [government] gives me something to support my family.”But I’m not sure what I’ll do to survive if I don’t get anything from Bangladesh,” Hossain says, looking blankly into the uncertain future.
