India, Bangladesh settle decades-old boundary dispute

Indian families in enclaves on Bangladeshi territory, and vice versa, have not had citizenship rights nor government services in either country. “My heart pounds with fear when I hear a mobile phone calling”, she tells AFP. The office of the Registrar General of India, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and district magistrate, Cooch Behar (India) and deputy commissioners of Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Kurigram and Nilphamari (Bangladesh) worked systematically and in a coordinated fashion to collect the options from the residents.

Supporting her were activists of an organisation who were working towards an exchange of the Indian and Bangladeshi enclaves. “But this time I am prepared”, said Bala. In 1956, Moshaldanga was engulfed in strife and I had gone over to Bangladesh. “But none from India”. Their residents were trapped between two states.

With the land swapping less than 48 hours away, excitement has gripped the enclaves, with villagers holding feasts, rehearsing their new national anthem and preparing for celebrations including traditional games.

The small pockets of land had been isolated from the Indian and Bangladeshi mainlands for many decades now, and the people residing there had led a stateless existence – unrecognised by India or Bangladesh. The boundary dispute has been lingering since British colonialists carved Pakistan out of India in 1947, and granted independence to the two countries.

“But we were never independent ourselves”. “We want our own school”.

Dhaka: The exchange of enclaves between India and Bangladesh is another milestone in the ties between the two countries, a leading daily said here on Saturday.

“I’m leaving my home”, said Mr. Ali.

The historic exchange will end the seven decades of uncertainty endured by the residents of the enclaves, known as chitmahals. “We are true Indian citizens now”.

In Poaturkuthi’s main square, a group of residents are seated under a tree engaged in an animated discussion.

When the enclaves merged into the country where they physically existed, India gained 7,110 acres of land and Bangladesh 17,160 acres.

“It’s like we have been living in a jungle all these years”, says Zainal Abedin. A tray of tea appears magically. The people are coming in India with Indian flags and candles. “And I will become part of history”.

Debiganj chief government administrator Shafiqul Islam said 42 people had made such last-minute applications, and their fate would now be decided by Dhaka and New Delhi. “What about a school?” So they could use the occasion to get citizenship of one of the nations where they would not have to face legal action. “Majority understood our pain”, he said. Now they too will be part of his responsibility.

Just after midnight Saturday, one of the most perplexing border disputes in the world officially ended.

It is a bit off key and they stumble through the phrases coaxed gently by a couple of teachers.

Mr Mia says the mainstream media have largely ignored the identity struggle of enclave residents who have also been denied access to basic facilities like proper healthcare and education.

“But at least they will be free”, he adds pointing at the children. So they will not be eligible for citizenship and ownership of land.