Enrolment of enclave people starts next month
A joint team of Bangladesh and India will begin enrolment of people living in enclaves of the two countries from July first week so that they can migrate to their country of choice as part of implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA).
The home ministry, in a notification yesterday, informed the people of enclaves that the officials will visit all the enclaves to know about their choice of citizenship. These people will have to fill up application forms stating which country they want to reside.
If a person wants to retain his or her citizenship of Bangladesh or India, he or she will have to migrate to the country of choice from August 1 to November 30 this year by filling up necessary forms.
During this period, they will get travel pass from the authorities concerned to visit their country of choice. They can travel through the checkpoints of Chilahati-Haldibari, Burimari-Chengrabandha, Banglabandha-Fulbari and will also be able to carry their movable property, including money.
Those interested will have to shift to their country of choice by November 30 this year by selling their immovable properties. Persons failing to do so can keep their property deeds with the district administrations in their respective countries before leaving.
According to the home ministry notification, all people living in Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh/Bangladeshi enclaves inside India included in the 2011 Census or their children born afterwards will get the citizenship of Bangladesh/India and will be entitled to all facilities as citizens of the countries concerned.
There are 162 enclaves in India and Bangladesh. Of them, India has 111 enclaves or nearly 17,158 acres in Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Nilphamari of Bangladesh, while Bangladesh has 51 enclaves spreading over 7,110 acres in Cooch Behar of India.
