Enclave transfer

Fate of 51 people to be decided next week

15 want to cancel their names as Indian citizens

District magistrate (DM)-level talks between Bangladesh and India will be held at the zero point of Chengrabandha on August 10 to decide whether the names of 51 people, living in former Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh territory, would be included in the latest headcount list, according to sources in the home and foreign ministries.
These people have urged the DM on the Indian side and the Indian Embassy in Dhaka to put their names on the latest headcount list.
In their applications, the 51 said they could not be listed in the latest headcount roll as they were absent in the areas during the latest headcount conducted by the Indo-Bangla joint survey team between July 6 and 16.
At the same time, 15 out of 979 people living in former 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh territory who had opted for Indian citizenship have changed their mind and applied to cancel their names.
The additional secretary (political) of the home ministry, Abu Hena Muhammad Rahmatul Munim, told The Independent that the DM-level talks will decide whether the 51 people will be considered as "enclave people".
“As per a decision of the Bangladesh-India Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG), the DMs will look into the matter.
Our local administration and the jail authorities have informed us that no one from among the 51 is in jail or shelter home,” he added. Talking to this correspondent, the Rangpur divisional commissioner, Muhammad Delwar Bakht, said: “The DMs will forward their recommendations to the JBWG and the higher authorities for the final decision,” he said.

 He also said that some 15 out of 979 people living in former Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh territory have applied to the authorities concerned for changing their decision of becoming Indian citizens.
 The Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner (DC), Habibur Rahaman, said: “We may accept their applications after holding joint hearing at the DM-level talks. We will also send our recommendations to the JBWG seeking further steps in this regard.”
 In all, 979 people living in former 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh territory have opted for Indian citizenship, while no one from among the 51 living in Bangladeshi enclaves inside the Indian territory is willing to come to Bangladesh.
 A total of 37,369 people live in the 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh and 14,215 in the 51 Bangladeshi enclaves inside Indian territory.
 On July 31, 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh became Bangladeshi territory, while 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India became part of India in accordance with the Land Boundary Agreement, 1974 and its additional protocol signed in September 2011. This ended nearly seven decades of suffering of over 50,000 people deprived of civic, legal and property rights.
 On July 6, India and Bangladesh launched a joint survey to record the "choice of nationality" of 51,584 people in 162 enclaves in each other's territories ahead of the July 31 integration of land with the respective mainland under the historic LBA.
 On the first day of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden visit to Dhaka on June 6, India and Bangladesh swapped documents regarding the LBA that paved the way to implement the 1974 pact.

Enclave transfer

Fate of 51 people to be decided next week

15 want to cancel their names as Indian citizens

District magistrate (DM)-level talks between Bangladesh and India will be held at the zero point of Chengrabandha on August 10 to decide whether the names of 51 people, living in former Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh territory, would be included in the latest headcount list, according to sources in the home and foreign ministries. These people have urged the DM on the Indian side and the Indian Embassy in Dhaka to put their names on the latest headcount list. In their applications, the 51 said they could not be listed in the latest headcount roll as they were absent in the areas during the latest headcount conducted by the Indo-Bangla joint survey team between July 6 and 16. At the same time, 15 out of 979 people living in former 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh territory who had opted for Indian citizenship have changed their mind and applied to cancel their names. The additional secretary (political) of the home ministry, Abu Hena Muhammad Rahmatul Munim, told The Independent that the DM-level talks will decide whether the 51 people will be considered as enclave people. As per a decision of the Bangladesh-India Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG), the DMs will look into the matter. Our local administration and the jail authorities have informed us that no one from among the 51 is in jail or shelter home, he added. Talking to this correspondent, the Rangpur divisional commissioner, Muhammad Delwar Bakht, said: The DMs will forward their recommendations to the JBWG and the higher authorities for the final decision, he said. He also said that some 15 out of 979 people living in former Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh territory have applied to the authorities concerned for changing their decision of becoming Indian citizens. The Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner (DC), Habibur Rahaman, said: We may accept their applications after holding joint hearing at the DM-level talks. We will also send our recommendations to the JBWG seeking further steps in this regard. In all, 979 people living in former 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh territory have opted for Indian citizenship, while no one from among the 51 living in Bangladeshi enclaves inside the Indian territory is willing to come to Bangladesh. A total of 37,369 people live in the 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh and 14,215 in the 51 Bangladeshi enclaves inside Indian territory. On July 31, 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh became Bangladeshi territory, while 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India became part of India in accordance with the Land Boundary Agreement, 1974 and its additional protocol signed in September 2011. This ended nearly seven decades of suffering of over 50,000 people deprived of civic, legal and property rights. On July 6, India and Bangladesh launched a joint survey to record the choice of nationality of 51,584 people in 162 enclaves in each others territories ahead of the July 31 integration of land with the respective mainland under the historic LBA. On the first day of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis maiden visit to Dhaka on June 6, India and Bangladesh swapped documents regarding the LBA that paved the way to implement the 1974 pact.