It was literally freedom at midnight. Ending nearly seven decades of living in limbo and darkness of statelessness, it was time for thousands of people living on tiny islands of land to celebrate as India and Bangladesh swapped enclaves, bringing to an end the 68-year-old boundary dispute.
The formal swapping of enclaves promises to usher in a new life of hope and dignity for around 51,000 people living in 162 enclaves across both countries. Both countries have exchanged 162 enclaves, with 51 from the Indian side and 111 from the Bangladesh side. It is estimated that there are more than 37,000 people in the Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh and more than 14,000 people in Bangladeshi enclaves in India. The people in these enclaves have been deprived of education, healthcare, citizenship, electricity. In terms of the area to be exchanged between both countries as per the agreement is 17,160.63 acres returned to Bangladesh and 2267.68 acres returned to India.
The land-swap follows the Land Boundary Agreement signed between India and Bangladesh during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Dhaka. This historic agreement is expected to give a national identity to thousands of people living in these enclaves.
The mood in Bangladesh is upbeat, with celebrations and merry-making seen in many parts of the country as the clock ticked past midnight (July31/August 1). “End of 68 years of pain.” – this is how the leading Bangladeshi daily Samakal encapsulated the emotional and historical import of the land swap.
With the swap done, both countries now need to work on issues such as smuggling, illegal immigration and trafficking at the borders. The exchange of enclaves will grant citizenship to the people who were deprived of it due to the disputed land between both countries. The immediate challenge for both countries is to rehabilitate and give access to basic facilities to over 50,000 people living in these enclaves.
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