Former enclave residents seek government safety net
Our correspondent, Lalmonirhat
More than 40,000 inhabitants of the 111 former Indian enclaves in four districts inside Bangladesh are now dreaming of better life and civics amenities for their families and children. For more than six decades, they were deprived of modern civic facilities, as they did not have identity of citizenship of any state.
They had no legal identity, either from Bangladesh or India. They had no legal protection as they could not seek help or assistance from law enforcement agencies. Taking advantage of this, the enclaves turned into safe havens for drug dealers and professional criminals. After committing crime in the mainland and other places, they often took shelter in the enclaves to avoid arrest.
The local residents of No 16 Votbari enclave, known as Jahur Alis chit under Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat, say that from the time of the Pakistani regime, these enclaves have been safe havens for criminals, killers and dacoits. They dominated
the enclaves and ruled
according to their will. Those who are not loyal to them were brutally killed.
Just after the exchange of 162 enclaves between the two countries on July 31st night, in Dasiarchara enclave under Fulbari upazila of Kurigram district two rival groups clashed over a piece of disputed land that left 10 people injured.
But after the implementation of the LBA, the life of the common people in the enclaves is starting to take a new shape with government support like bank loans for trade and agriculture, legal support, job opportunities to develop and earn livelihood.
Among the 111 enclaves, 36 are in Panchagarh, 12 in Kurigram 4 in Nilphamari and 59 in Lalmonirhat districts.
In Kurigram, Dasiarchara was the biggest enclave under Fulbari upazila with a population of more than 6,000. The rest of the 10 former enclaves in Bhurungamari upazila had a population of 2,000.
In Lalmonirat, there were more than 10,000 people in 59 former enclaves.
In Nilfamari, about 500 peoples lived in the four enclaves consisting of 158 households and in Panchagor, 20,000 peoples were living in 36 other enclaves.
Moinul Haque, President of the Bharat-Bangla Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee welcomed the PMs direction for providing special attention to the people of former enclaves. Golam Mostafa, General Secretary of the organization, said that now people are happy and safe because police camps have already been set up in the former enclaves to provide security to the local residents. After nearly seven decades, these 111 enclaves have become integrated with Bangladesh through the exchange of land. Most inhabitants of the 111 former enclaves accepted the citizenship of the Bangladesh, except for 979 people who went to India.
When contacted, Giyash Uddin Ahammed, Police Super of Panchagarh district regarding security, law and order he said that they have set up three temporary police camps in three former enclaves in Boda, Debiganj and Panchagarh to maintain vigilance.
Police camps have also been set up in Dasiarchara. The ASP of Lalmonirhat said that he has sent a letter to the higher authorities, seeking the approval for setting up two temporary police camps in former enclaves in Sadar and Patgam upazilas. Presently, police forces from respective thanas are patrolling the enclaves.
