Census survey kicks off at enclaves

An Indo-Bangla joint team kicked off the Census survey in 162 enclaves inside Bangladesh and India on Monday morning. The move is a step ahead from the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) signed between the two countries.
People living in the enclaves will be allowed to take the citizenship of the country of their choice after the survey. The decision will have to be stated before the survey team which will carry out its activities till July 16. Residents will be allowed to go to India till the midnight of October 31 this year, said authorities.

On Monday morning, a joint team of India and Bangladesh began the headcount based on the survey of 2011 at the Vitorkuti enclave (Indian) inside Bangladesh under Sadar upazila of Lalmonirhat district.
“The team will count people of all families based on the 2011 survey. The names of newborns and newcomers through marriage will be included in the list. On the other hand, if someone from the enclave expresses a desire to return to his/her mainland, their details and photograph will be submitted separately,” said Harish Chandro Barmon, a Revenue Inspector at the Dinhata land office in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district and a member of the joint team.
However, conversations with the inhabitants of this enclave revealed that none of the 633 people living in in 154 households in the enclave wished to go back. They said there were barriers that restricted their entry into India. Besides, these residents had been enjoying the facilities being provided by Bangladesh for long.
“Seventy years of my life have passed but I never knew who I am or what my identity is. After 68 years, it has finally been settled,” said Ramjan Ali (70), a resident of the enclave, expressing happiness on the independence. “Knowing that I can die die with a nationality is a matter of joy for me,” he added. Kabir Hosen, a student, demanded that the government provide special facilities such as jobs since they had been deprived of civic rights for long.
The Census survey also began at the Indian enclave of Dashiarchhara inside Phulbari upazila of Kurigram district. The survey was inaugurated by Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin, Deputy Commissioner of the district at 10:30 am yesterday. Police Super Mohammad Tabarak Ullah, Phulbari upazila nirbahi officer Nasir Uddin Mahmud, Maynul Haque, President of Bangladesh unit of India-Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee (IBEECC), survey team members were also present.
There are 12 Indian enclaves (under Cooch Behar district of West Bengal) inside Bhurungamari, Phulbari and Sadar upazilas of the district. A control room has been set up in the office of the Kurigram Deputy Commissioner for various enclave activities including land survey and the security of the people.
Eleven Counters and four Supervisors from India have begun the survey in 12 enclaves of Kurigram district. They are being assisted group-wise by eleven Counters and three Supervisors from Bangladesh. A total of 75 members of the both countries have begun work at 162 enclaves in both countries.
“The Indian survey team will ask each of the residents why they want to be a Bangladeshi citizen,” said Tauhid Islam, Master Trainer of the survey team and Deputy Director of the district statistic department. “We will send the survey report to the Ministry of Home Affairs by July 20. To avoid complexities, the survey will be conducted on the people, their houses, assets and social status between July 6 and July 16 this year,” said Tauhid Islam.
“Enclave people can sell their assets (land) normally by July 31. After this date, they can sell land with the permission of the Deputy Commissioner up to November 30 this year,” said Shohel Maruf, Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate in Kurigram.

 

Census survey kicks off at enclaves

An Indo-Bangla joint team kicked off the Census survey in 162 enclaves inside Bangladesh and India on Monday morning. The move is a step ahead from the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) signed between the two countries. People living in the enclaves will be allowed to take the citizenship of the country of their choice after the survey. The decision will have to be stated before the survey team which will carry out its activities till July 16. Residents will be allowed to go to India till the midnight of October 31 this year, said authorities. On Monday morning, a joint team of India and Bangladesh began the headcount based on the survey of 2011 at the Vitorkuti enclave (Indian) inside Bangladesh under Sadar upazila of Lalmonirhat district. The team will count people of all families based on the 2011 survey. The names of newborns and newcomers through marriage will be included in the list. On the other hand, if someone from the enclave expresses a desire to return to his/her mainland, their details and photograph will be submitted separately, said Harish Chandro Barmon, a Revenue Inspector at the Dinhata land office in West Bengals Cooch Behar district and a member of the joint team. However, conversations with the inhabitants of this enclave revealed that none of the 633 people living in in 154 households in the enclave wished to go back. They said there were barriers that restricted their entry into India. Besides, these residents had been enjoying the facilities being provided by Bangladesh for long. Seventy years of my life have passed but I never knew who I am or what my identity is. After 68 years, it has finally been settled, said Ramjan Ali (70), a resident of the enclave, expressing happiness on the independence. Knowing that I can die die with a nationality is a matter of joy for me, he added. Kabir Hosen, a student, demanded that the government provide special facilities such as jobs since they had been deprived of civic rights for long. The Census survey also began at the Indian enclave of Dashiarchhara inside Phulbari upazila of Kurigram district. The survey was inaugurated by Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin, Deputy Commissioner of the district at 10:30 am yesterday. Police Super Mohammad Tabarak Ullah, Phulbari upazila nirbahi officer Nasir Uddin Mahmud, Maynul Haque, President of Bangladesh unit of India-Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee (IBEECC), survey team members were also present. There are 12 Indian enclaves (under Cooch Behar district of West Bengal) inside Bhurungamari, Phulbari and Sadar upazilas of the district. A control room has been set up in the office of the Kurigram Deputy Commissioner for various enclave activities including land survey and the security of the people. Eleven Counters and four Supervisors from India have begun the survey in 12 enclaves of Kurigram district. They are being assisted group-wise by eleven Counters and three Supervisors from Bangladesh. A total of 75 members of the both countries have begun work at 162 enclaves in both countries. The Indian survey team will ask each of the residents why they want to be a Bangladeshi citizen, said Tauhid Islam, Master Trainer of the survey team and Deputy Director of the district statistic department. We will send the survey report to the Ministry of Home Affairs by July 20. To avoid complexities, the survey will be conducted on the people, their houses, assets and social status between July 6 and July 16 this year, said Tauhid Islam. Enclave people can sell their assets (land) normally by July 31. After this date, they can sell land with the permission of the Deputy Commissioner up to November 30 this year, said Shohel Maruf, Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate in Kurigram.