Kolkata (BBN)-Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Bangladesh in the new year.
The implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement is therefore getting final touches and is likely to be completed before the expected visit, reports The Indian Express quoting Bangladesh government sources.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to hold a rally at Nayarhat, which is surrounded by four Bangladeshi enclaves (chitmahal) in Cooch Behar district.
Banerjee is expected to interact with people of the enclaves on December 4.
Banerjee and her party were up against the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and opposed the implementation of the pact.
The protocol that was signed between the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh in 2011, could not be ratified in Parliament.
In September, 2013, UPA II regime under Manmohan Singh tried to table the Bill in Rajya Sabha, though the bill was torn off by the protesting TMC MPs.
However, on December 1, the standing committee, which is led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and has TMC MP Sugata Bose, recommended that the LBA should be implemented.
There was a complete turn around as far as the Trinamool Congress opposition was concerned.
Explaining the reasons behind the TMC’s approval to the Bill, Renuka Sinha, MP, Cooch Behar said that Didi “could feel the pain of the people living in Indian enclaves in Bangladesh which led to the clearance on the agreement”.
“Our party had some serious issues with the protocol and its clauses. If the protocol is ratified, our state would lose a huge quantum of land too and there are certain other issues. But Didi wants the agreement to be implemented as she can feel the pain of the people living in Indian enclaves in Bangladesh,” said Sinha.
“We can say that the people living in Bangladeshi enclaves in India do not face difficulties everyday, but the people living in Indian enclaves go through so many issues everyday. Didi has further decided to hold a meeting at Nayarhat on December 4 where she will directly interact with the people of chitmahal.”
Excited with the news of expected ratification of the Bill, enclave dwellers swung into a celebration mood.
The residents also celebrated the birth anniversary of late Dipak Sengupta, a Forward Bloc MLA who first spearheaded the movement for the residents of enclaves. Simultaneously, they held meetings to discuss how they would interact with the CM as this would be the first interaction between residents of chitmahal and the head of the state.
Mamata will hold the meeting at Nayarhat that is surrounded by four enclaves including Karola, Papola, Shib-prasad, Poaturkuthi and Mustai.
“At least 12,000 people from chitmahal will join the meeting. For last 66 years we have remained stateless and now our children would live a life of dignity,” said Saheb Ali, a leader of the movement by the enclave dwellers.
Zokey Ahad, deputy High Commissioner of Bangladesh, said, “We are hopeful that the agreement would be implemented soon. Both the countries are active to get it implemented.”
Modi on Sunday announced that his government would utilise LTA with Bangladesh in a manner that it serves the long-term security interests, reports The Indian Express.
The protocol was signed between the two countries in 2011 and in last three years the bill could not be ratified.
As per the provisions of the Bill, India will exchange 111 enclaves, measuring 17,158.2 acres, with Bangladesh and receive 51 enclaves, covering 7,110 acres.
While 14,215 people reside in the Bangladeshi enclaves in India, 37,269 people reside in Indian enclaves in Bangladesh.
Almost 51,000 people reside in these 162 enclaves.
Meanwhile, Indo-Bangla Enclave Exchange Coordination committee conducted a survey on how many people from Indian enclaves see Indian citizenship.
“In March 2013, our survey report revealed that 149 families having 743 heads will seek Indian citizenship while our latest survey in November, 2014 says 149 families having 734 people want Indian citizenship. So the survey reports remained same,” said Diptiman Sengupta, secretary, Indo-Bangla Enclave Exchange Coordination committee.
BBN/SS-03Dec14-1:30pm (BST)