President, PM, Khaleda congratulate new citizens

President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have congratulated the people of the enclaves on becoming citizens after land transfer, report agencies.
As many as 111 enclaves became part of Bangladesh and 51 enclaves went to India at midnight Friday.
In a message, the President termed the enclave swap after 68 years of land boundary complications 'historic for the both countries'.  It will have a positive impact on the citizenship and identity of the enclave dwellers as well as their social and economic growth. Hamid also greeted Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on the occasion.
He thanked all those involved with the process to exchange the enclaves.
Speaking to news agency, the prime minister's Deputy Press Secretary Ashraful Alam quoted her as saying that the people have got new identity, the opportunity to live in a specific territory, and the flag and map of their motherland after 68 years.
She said her government saw no difference between these people and other citizens of Bangladesh.
Hasina said the government would provide the former enclave dwellers with all sorts of facilities other citizens get.
Meanwhile: Terming it a historical event, BNP and its chairperson Khaleda Zia Saturday expressed happiness over the freedom of around 52,000 people following the formal swap of 162 enclaves between Bangladesh and India.
The party also welcomed the new citizens of the country following the amalgamation of 111 enclaves with Bangladesh territory.
"Today is a glorious day in our national life. When the clock struck a minute past midnight (Friday), 162 enclaves between Bangladesh and India were revoked. The flags of the two countries were hoisted there as the enclave people got back their citizenships following the Indian parliament's ratification of the historic Land Boundary Agreement," said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.
Addressing a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office, the BNP leader further said, "Our chairperson Khaleda Zia and we as well are cheerful over the 68 years' tear-soaked freedom of 52,000 people. The new citizens of Bangladesh will merge with our mainstream ones. It's an historical incident."
He said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia also greeted those residents of 111 enclaves for becoming Bangladesh citizens.
The dwellers of previous 111 Bangladeshi enclaves celebrated the historic swap of the enclaves with India by hoisting the Bangladeshi national flag in their land at one minute past on Saturday morning.
As part of the process to implement the 1974 historic Land Boundary Agreement, Bangladesh and India formally exchanged their enclaves in the early hours of Saturday, bringing an end to the 68-year statelessness of thousands of people.
With the midnight swap, the 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India have become Indian territory while 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh the Bangladesh territory.