A dream comes true

It was like a dream come true for the residents of 59 erstwhile enclaves in the district. Their houses and shops were lit by electricity supply yesterday.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) started supplying electricity to the former enclaves in Patgram, Hatibandha and Lalmonirhat Sadar upazilas, said Sheikh Mohammad Alauddin, chief engineer of BPDB in Rangpur.

Shamsul Islam, 56, of Banshkata village in Patgram upazila said they were happy with the electricity supply. “We've started a new life after the launch of the power supply to our village.”

Noor Mohammad, 42, of the same village said the electricity supply has opened up a new opportunity for them to change their lifestyle.

Schoolboy Sifat Islam, 12, said they had to face difficulties to study at night as there was no electricity. But the problem is over.

Azizul Islam, a leader of the former India-Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Implementation Committee and a resident of the erstwhile Gotamari enclave in Hatibandha upazila, said they were lucky to get all the facilities in phases.

Bangladesh and India on July 31 midnight exchanged 162 enclaves between themselves, ending the stateless existence of around 52,000 people.