Roundup: Tens of thousands celebrate freedom as Indo-Bangla deal to exchange enclaves comes into force

After living in a stateless limbo for about seven decades, some 52,000 inhabitants of 162 enclaves inside Bangladesh and India celebrated freedom when the clock strikes 12:00 on Friday night.

They became citizens of either of the countries based on their choice, as Dhaka and New Delhi exchanged the adversely possessed pieces of land at the stroke of midnight.

The land transfer ended the stateless life of some 52,000 people who belonged to one country but located in the other -- an ignominy they have been suffering since the 1947 partition of the subcontinent.

The moment of exchanging instruments of ratification of land boundary agreement with Dhaka was witnessed by visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina and top officials of both countries on June 6 this year in Dhaka.

The agreement aimed at giving effect to acquisition of territories by India and transfer of territories to Bangladesh and exchange of enclaves in line with the 1974 agreement.

The Indian Parliament passed the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) Bill on May 7 this year.

The LBA was signed in May 1974 between Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Bangladesh ratified the agreement in 1974, but India held back the process, saying it would require a constitutional amendment to implement the agreement.

With the implementation of the LBA, people in such enclaves now have a proper nationality and access to state provided benefits.

According to a joint survey (2007), the total number of people living in the enclaves is 51,549, of which 37,334 are in Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh.

According to the LBA Protocol, these people were allowed to stay on and become citizens of the country in which the enclave is located or they can opt to migrate.

To mark the end of 68-year-long life of statelessness, deprivation and obscurity, enclave people offered special prayers and staged cultural functions to celebrate their freedom on Friday.

When the clock strikes 12:00 on Friday night, sixty-eight candles were lit at each home in the enclaves, one for every year.

At the same time, they also released 68 balloons and explode 68 firecrackers.

Earlier on Friday, the boundary pillars set up to demarcate enclave lands during the British period were dismantled and the Indian flags were taken down.

Officials say Bangladeshi flag will fly in the areas since Saturday morning.

"Its a memorable moment for me and my family members. We are now nationals of Bangladesh. From this moment we'll enjoy our freedom," said Ratna Roy, whose family opted to become Bangladeshi national.

"We'll also enjoy state facilities of Bangladesh as we are now Bangladeshis," said Ratna, the inhabitant of an Indian enclave ( which is now a part of Bangladesh) in Bangladesh's northern Panchagarh district, some 468 km away of capital Dhaka.

Family of another Shathi Rani, 13, of the same enclave too chose to become Bangladeshi nationals.

"We faced difficulties studying in Bangladeshi schools as we were in an enclave which belonged to India," she said.

"I will no longer have to use fake identities to get admission in a Bangladeshi educational institute because from now on I am a Bangladeshi national."

She had earlier studied at a school in Bangladesh mainland using a fake address.

Mofizur Rahman, president of Panchagar district unit of India- Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee (IBEECC), said exchange of the enclaves comes into effect now (when the clock strikes 12:00 on Friday night) in line with the Land Boundary Agreement signed between Bangladesh and India.

There are 111 Indian enclaves located in four districts in Bangladesh.

In India, there are 51 Bangladeshi enclaves and similar was the picture of celebration in those.

People there too reportedly celebrated their freedom as they become Indian citizens Friday night.

"My family decided to go India. I am deeply saddened as I have to leave behind my friends and other family members in Bangladesh, " said Shita Roy, a minor girl.

"Pray for us," Roy said when tears filled her eyes. Endi