All set to hoist Bangladesh-India national flags in enclaves

Bangladesh and India will hoist their national flags in their respective enclaves on Aug 1, ending decades of stateless miseries of more than 50,000 people.

Nurul Islam Hasibbdnews24.com
Published : 30 July 2015, 07:10 PM
Updated : 31 July 2015, 03:44 PM

The foreign ministry said the 51 Bangladesh enclaves in India would become Indian territory, while 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh would become Bangladesh territory from the midnight of July 31.

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 partitioning 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 1 morning.

Transfer of territorial jurisdiction of adversely possessed lands would also take effect from July 31 midnight.

Gazette notifications pertaining to territory would be issued by both the governments.

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.

The Indian High Commission said data from this joint exercise were now being verified by the Office of the Registrar General of India and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

“After successfully completing the exercise of ascertaining nationality options of enclave residents, the ground has been prepared for the movement of such residents who exercise the option of moving from an Indian enclave to the Indian mainland,” it said in a statement.

Both the governments are working closely together to facilitate “trouble-free” movement of these residents and ensure safe, orderly and secure passage for the movement to the mainland, the foreign ministry said.

Dwellers on both sides will light 68 candles, release 68 balloons and explode 68 firecrackers on July 31 midnight to mark the end of 68 years of statelessness.