PMO asks ministries to expedite implementation

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has asked the ministries concerned to expedite implementation of proposed projects in Bangladeshi enclaves, officials said.
The divisional commissioner (DC) of Rangpur has recently requested the PMO to take necessary steps for quick implementation of these projects in now-defunct enclaves, they said.
Later, the PMO in its letters has directed the authorities concerned in this regard.
The government has taken up a good number of short, medium and long-term projects for Bangladeshi enclaves. The projects include infrastructure construction, education, health and sanitation, the letter mentioned.  
Over Tk 2.0 billion has been allocated to implement different projects especially on employment, heath and education in these enclaves, according to a source concerned.
Currently, construction work of bridges, culverts, markets, educational institutions, community centres, digital sub-centres, police camps and houses for homeless people is going on in these enclaves, he added.
Training, loan, agricultural inputs and assistance are also being provided to the people in these enclaves apart from widow allowance, old age allowance, disability allowance and student stipends, he mentioned.  
According to an Indo-Bangla joint survey report-2015, there were 14,500 residents in 51 Bangladeshi enclaves inside India while 44,500 people in 111 Indian enclaves landlocked in Bangladesh.
The joint survey began in Bangladesh and India on July 06, 2015 to record the choice of nationality of 51,584 people in 162 enclaves in each other's territories ahead of enclave exchange on July 31, 2015.
According to the Land Boundary Agreement signed between the two countries, 75 joint teams were formed to conduct the survey.
Of the total, 10 survey teams worked in Kurigram district, 20 in Lalmonirhat district, 19 in Panchagarh district and one in Nilphamari district while 25 others in Cooch Bihar district of India.
The survey included a joint census, enlistment of land category, taking photographs and filling up of forms mentioning one's desire which country's citizenship s/he prefers.
According to the survey, 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh have 17,158 acres of land.
Of them, 36 enclaves in Panchagarh district have 190 acres of land while 58 enclaves in Lalmonirhat district 8,978 acres of land, 12 enclaves in Kurigram district 1,880 acres of land and five enclaves in Nilphamari district have 6,110 acres of land.
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