India to issue travel passes to former-enclave people Sep 7-8
Our correspondent, Lalmonirhat
The Indian authorities will issue travel passes to residents of former 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh who wish to retain their Indian citizenship and move to India. A delegation of the Indian government will visit Bangladesh and issue travel passes to residents at the former Indian enclaves on 7-8 September, a source at the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Kurigram said. After receiving these travel passes, the former enclave residents will be allowed to cross the border into India through Haldibari-Banglabandha of Panchagor, Burimari-Changrabandha of Lalmonirhat and Shahebgonj-Bagbandha of kurigram border crossings within November 30, said the source.
After the historic implementation of the LBA treaty with India on 31th July, nearly 55 thousand residents of 162 enclaves started a new life with their new identities, bringing an end to their stateless identity devoid of any civic rights for the last 68 years.
The residents of the enclave were given the option to choose their citizenship between India and Bangladesh.
Some 979 peoples from 111 former Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh opted to retain
their Indian nationality in the beginning.
