Joyous mood marks enclave transfer

FE Team | Published: August 01, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Enclave dwellers on both sides of the border were ready to light 68 candles, release 68 balloons and explode 68 firecrackers just after Friday midnight to mark the end of 68 years of statelessness, report agencies until our going to press at 10.30pm.
The foreign ministry said the 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India would become Indian territory while 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh would become Bangladesh territory after the July 31 midnight.
The dwellers will hoist their national flags in their respective enclaves in this (Aug 01) morning ending decades of stateless miseries of more than 50,000 people.
The residents of the enclaves inside Bangladesh, including children, women and elderly persons, were in a festive mood as they were going to get their new identity as citizens of the country.
Preparations were at the final stage for lighting candles, exchanging sweets and holding rallies, cultural functions and sports on the occasion.
Indian High Commission in Dhaka says this "Appointed Date" would be a "historic day" for both the countries.
The two High Commissioners 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.
The ultimate transfer of the enclaves would finally end the stateless life of over 50,000 people, a status they have been suffering since 1947 following the partition of the subcontinent, keeping them stranded in 161 enclaves.
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.
Bangladesh foreign ministry said the respective district administrations of both the countries would hoist their respective national flags in the enclaves in the Aug 01 morning.
Transfer of territorial jurisdiction of adversely possessed lands would also take effect from July 31 midnight.
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 Nov 1 and Nov 30.
The actual option taking exercise was carried out by 75 teams operating in the enclaves in India and Bangladesh from July 6-16.
At least 30 observers from both governments were also present in the enclaves during this survey period.
Both the governments were working closely together to facilitate "trouble-free" movement of the residents and ensure safe, orderly and secure passage for the movement to the mainland, the foreign ministry said. The enclave exchange marks the process of implementing the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) of 1974.
However, all functions remain suspended in 51 Bangladeshi enclaves inside India because of state mourning in that country over the death of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, reports the Lalmonirhat correspondent of BSS.