Frustrated enclave people on fast-unto-death
People of 12 Indian enclaves inside Panchagarh district start fast unto death on the premises of Shaheed Minar in Panchagarh town yesterday demanding early exchange of enclaves.Photo: STAR
Frustrated enclave people began a fast-unto-death in Panchagarh while people of 12 Indian enclaves in Kurigram observed a token half-day hunger strike yesterday. They were demanding immediate implementation of Indo-Bangla exclave exchange accord. In Panchagarh, the fast-unto-death programme began at Shaheed Minar in the town, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent. Leader of India-Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee and chairman of Shalbari enclave Sirajul Islam, chairman of Puthimari enclave Toslimuddin and chairman of Garati enclave Mofizer Rahaman led the programme joined by over a hundred people of different enclaves in Panchagarh. A discussion followed the fast-unto-death programme. The speakers at the discussion expressed their frustration as no timeframe was mentioned in the agreement signed on Tuesday between India and Bangladesh for implementation of exchange of enclaves. It was just a renewal of Mujib-Indira Treaty of 1974. No new thing was added to the deal for relief of the enclave people, they alleged. It will not bring any good to the enclave people as there is no specific timeframe for exchange of enclaves, they said. They said the enclave people live in awful conditions amid lack of adequate employment opportunity, infrastructure, educational institutions, electricity and medical facilities. They urged both the governments to implement the deal as soon as possible considering the enclave people's miserable life without citizens' rights. Our Kurigram correspondent adds: People of 12 Indian enclaves yesterday observed a half-day hunger strike at Kalirhat Bazar of Indian enclave Dashiar Chhara demanding implementation of enclave exchange accord. Dashiar Chhara enclave people tried to enter Kurigram district town at 10:00am yesterday to observe the hunger strike programme at the district's Central Shaheed Minar. But Phulbari police resisted their procession and returned them back into their Indian enclave. Later the Indian enclave people gathered at Kalirhat Bazar of Dashir Chhara enclave and observed hunger strike till 5:00pm on the day. According to official estimates, Bangladesh has 51 enclaves inside India. Similarly, India has 111 enclaves inside Bangladesh. Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh are situated in four districts --Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Nilphamari -- while all 51 Bangladeshi enclaves are in Indian Cooch Behar district.
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