Former Indian enclave residents carry lit torches during a procession at Dasiarchhara, Kurigram in Bangladesh on August 1, 2015. PHOTO: AFP
As the clock struck one minute past midnight, thousands of people who have been living without schools, clinics or power for a generation erupted in cheers of celebration for their new citizenship.
“We have been in the dark for 68 years,” said Russel Khandaker, 20, as he danced with friends in the Dashiar Chhara enclave, which has now became part of Bangladesh. “We’ve finally seen the light,” he told AFP.
A total of 162 tiny islands of land — 111 in Bangladesh and 51 in India — were officially handed over to the countries surrounding them on Saturday after Dhaka and New Delhi struck a border agreement in June. The land-swap means some 50,000 people who have been living in the isolated enclaves since 1947 will now become part of the countries that surround their homes.
In Dashiar Chhara, thousands of people defied monsoon rains to celebrate. Sharifa Akter, 20, held a candle in her hand and smiled. “I can now fulfil my dream of being a top government bureaucrat,” she said. “We’re now human beings with full human rights,” said Maidul Islam, 18.
Shafiqul Islam, chief government administrator in Debiganj, said the Bangladesh government would now roll out a ‘fast-track master plan’ to develop the enclaves.
In West Bengal state’s Mashaldanga enclave, the main site for celebrations on the Indian side, residents rallied with torches, let off fire crackers and hoisted the Indian flag to celebrate their ‘freedom’.
“We have waited so long for this moment,” said a jubilant resident, Tapas Das.
Mamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal hailed the agreement in a tweet. “Thousands of people will get new identities. Congratulations to them,” she said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 2nd, 2015.
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