Enclave people to get NID cards after formalities: EC

The Election Commission will enlist the names of those living in enclaves soon after completion of all administrative formalities, including providing them with the citizenship, to issue national identity (NID) cards against their names. After the issuance of NID cards, the enclave dwellers will be able to enjoy facilities that remained beyond their for more than 68 years.
As the enclave dwellers do not have identity cards, they are deprived of all facilities provided by the state. In a sense, they live a forlorn life despite living within the territories of both Bangladesh and India.
The process of getting different facilities will begin gradually after the transfer of 162 enclaves—111 in Bangladesh and 51 in India—from July 31 midnight,  in accordance with the Implementation of India- Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement 1974 and Protocol of 2011 to the Land Boundary Agreement.
According to the headcount of 2011, there are 37,383 people in 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh covering 17,160.63 acres and 14,090 people in 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India covering an area of 7,110.02 acres.
Azizul Islam, general secretary of India-Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee of Gochhamari Enclave in Lalamonirhat, told the Independent that they desperately feel the need of NID cards as they cannot use different services in absence of those cards.
“Those who are without NID cards have no security in life. We can’t do anything without the card. The card is necessary for getting jobs, buying or selling lands, acquiring a passport or even going to perform pilgrimage,” he said.
Golam Mostafa, general secretary of the India-Bangladesh Enclave Coordination Committee at Dashiarchhara Enclave in Kurigram, said, “We do not have any identity card. We live like captives in a cage. We cannot avail of different facilities in absence of NID cards. Earlier, we could not cast votes."
Even finance minister AMA Muhith in his Budget speech said, “These people are finally going to have the taste of freedom and be included in the mainstream development in Bangladesh. From now on, different ministries/divisions will be able to bring the enclaves within the ambit of their development programmes.”
He allocated Tk. 200 crore to develop the situation of the enclave dwellers.
Election Commission sources said they would take special arrangements to enrol the names of enclave dwellers in the voter list and to provide NID cards.  “We are giving special attention to the matter as they are going to be our citizens.  The government is taking preparations for it. All these matters are now on paper, but the demarcation of land has not been started yet. An enclave dweller can choose whether to  stay in Bangladesh or India,” election commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Md. Zabed Ali told The Independent  yesterday.
“We have come to know that the transfer of enclaves will begin on July 31. As soon as the administration will complete all formalities in this regard, we will begin the work for enrolling the enclave dwellers to provide them with NID cards,” he said.
He said the Election Commission will send enumerators to the enclaves to count the number of eligible people to include them in the voter list.
“We need work force and necessary equipment to bring the eligible people under voter list. There will be no delay from our side to bring those people under the umbrella of our voter list and to provide NID cards,” he added.  Election Commission secretary Md Sirajul Islam told The Independent that the commission has initially discussed the matter, but there are different formalities yet to be completed in this regard.
“When the enclave dwellers will be physically enlisted and the area will be demarcated, we will determine the constituencies to which these people will belong. Then we will enlist their names in the voter list. But it is a long process and nothing can be said right now,” he said.

Enclave people to get NID cards after formalities: EC

The Election Commission will enlist the names of those living in enclaves soon after completion of all administrative formalities, including providing them with the citizenship, to issue national identity (NID) cards against their names. After the issuance of NID cards, the enclave dwellers will be able to enjoy facilities that remained beyond their for more than 68 years. As the enclave dwellers do not have identity cards, they are deprived of all facilities provided by the state. In a sense, they live a forlorn life despite living within the territories of both Bangladesh and India. The process of getting different facilities will begin gradually after the transfer of 162 enclaves111 in Bangladesh and 51 in Indiafrom July 31 midnight, in accordance with the Implementation of India- Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement 1974 and Protocol of 2011 to the Land Boundary Agreement. According to the headcount of 2011, there are 37,383 people in 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh covering 17,160.63 acres and 14,090 people in 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India covering an area of 7,110.02 acres. Azizul Islam, general secretary of India-Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee of Gochhamari Enclave in Lalamonirhat, told the Independent that they desperately feel the need of NID cards as they cannot use different services in absence of those cards. Those who are without NID cards have no security in life. We cant do anything without the card. The card is necessary for getting jobs, buying or selling lands, acquiring a passport or even going to perform pilgrimage, he said. Golam Mostafa, general secretary of the India-Bangladesh Enclave Coordination Committee at Dashiarchhara Enclave in Kurigram, said, We do not have any identity card. We live like captives in a cage. We cannot avail of different facilities in absence of NID cards. Earlier, we could not cast votes. Even finance minister AMA Muhith in his Budget speech said, These people are finally going to have the taste of freedom and be included in the mainstream development in Bangladesh. From now on, different ministries/divisions will be able to bring the enclaves within the ambit of their development programmes. He allocated Tk. 200 crore to develop the situation of the enclave dwellers. Election Commission sources said they would take special arrangements to enrol the names of enclave dwellers in the voter list and to provide NID cards. We are giving special attention to the matter as they are going to be our citizens. The government is taking preparations for it. All these matters are now on paper, but the demarcation of land has not been started yet. An enclave dweller can choose whether to stay in Bangladesh or India, election commissioner Brigadier General (retd) Md. Zabed Ali told The Independent yesterday. We have come to know that the transfer of enclaves will begin on July 31. As soon as the administration will complete all formalities in this regard, we will begin the work for enrolling the enclave dwellers to provide them with NID cards, he said. He said the Election Commission will send enumerators to the enclaves to count the number of eligible people to include them in the voter list. We need work force and necessary equipment to bring the eligible people under voter list. There will be no delay from our side to bring those people under the umbrella of our voter list and to provide NID cards, he added. Election Commission secretary Md Sirajul Islam told The Independent that the commission has initially discussed the matter, but there are different formalities yet to be completed in this regard. When the enclave dwellers will be physically enlisted and the area will be demarcated, we will determine the constituencies to which these people will belong. Then we will enlist their names in the voter list. But it is a long process and nothing can be said right now, he said.