'Dahogram-Angorpota Free Day' Today
'Keep Tinbigha corridor gate always open'
People of Dahogram-Angorpota enclave under Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat district are allowed to cross the gate of Tinbigha corridor to enter the mainland of Bangladesh only during the daytime. Photo: STAR
People of Dahogram-Angorpota enclave under Patgram upazila in Lalmonirhat district will observe 'free day' today in conformity with their yearly programme since June 26 in 1992. In observance of 'Dahogram-Angorpota free day', they will bring out a procession and submit a memorandum seeking realisation of 10-point demand to the prime minister through Patgram upazila nirbahi officer. The demand includes keeping the iron gate at Tinbigha corridor open for 24 hours and turning the hospital at the enclave a full pledged one, locals said. "We will bring out a procession from Dahogram High School ground. After parading through different roads it will end near the iron gate made by Indian authorities. Then we will submit a memorandum seeking realisation of our 10-point demand," said Reza Islam, secretary of the Dahogram-Angorpota enclave free day observation committee. “Our main demand is to keep open the Indian gate at Tinbigha corridor for 24 hours. Now the gate is kept open for 12 hours at daytime, but we the enclave people remain confined during the night,” he said. "If our government can arrange keeping the gate open for 24 hours through talking with the Indian government, it will be of great help for the enclave people as we will be able to go to the mainland whenever necessary," said Afsar Ali, 70, a resident at Angorpota village. Mozidul Islam Mollah, 65, of the same village also echoed the same. Following a long parley, the Indian authorities in June 1996 agreed to keep the corridor gate open for 12 hours from 6:30am to 6:30pm. Since then, provision has been made to keep the gate open during daytime and shut at night. Patgram upazila parishad Chairman Ruhul Amin Babul, also the secretary of Patgram upazila unit of Awami League, said the present government is trying to persuade the Indian government to keep open the gate at Tinbigha corridor, the doorway to Dahogram-Angorpota, for 24 hours." The enclave people will hoist the national flag today and arrange milad mahfil and sports marking the 'free day'.
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