Abdul Awal, 58, cannot hold back his excitement as for the first time in his life he would be voting in the 11th parliamentary polls on December 30.

Awal is one of the newly registered voters of 59 former enclaves in Lalmonirhat that became Bangladesh's territory through the implementation of Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) in 2015.

“It feels like a dream that my vote will be counted for selecting Bangladesh's government,” said Awal, a resident of Bhitorkuti under Kulaghat union.

Awal recalled how he used to visit the polling centres to witness the festivity centring elections during his childhood. But he never disclosed his identity during those times. “This time I will walk to the centre proudly and be a part of the event.”

Of the 59 former enclaves, which were Indian territory only a few years ago, two are in Kulaghat, two in Gotamari union, and the rest are in Jongra, Kuchlibari, Burimari, Srirampur, Jagatber, and Bawra unions of Patgram upazila.

Of the 10,317 people living in these former enclaves, 6.500 have been registered as voters, according to the district election office.

During a visit to Kulaghat on Monday, this correspondent found most areas covered with posters of the Awami League. Posters of Jatiya Oikyafront were seen at a few places.

Jatiya Party Co-chairman GM Quader is contesting from the Awami League-led 14-party grand alliance against Lalmonirhat BNP President Asadul Habib Dulu in Lalmonirhat-3, which includes Kulaghat union.

Both the candidates were trying to drum up support but they did not show up when the flood hit the area hard in 2014, said some of the locals.

“During the floods, no-one offered a single piece of bread but now they are coming to us seeking votes,” said Ayub Ali, a resident of Banshpochai, Kalughat.

Ayub, however, showed this correspondent the smart card, vulnerable group feeding (VGF) card, and fair price card that he received following the dissolution of the enclaves.

Pointing at the smart card, he said, “Look, the card says I am a Bangladeshi. I will cast my ballot using this card.”

The 50-year-old said his relatives living in the mainland once used to call his family “enclave people” but now no-one dares to do so.

Following the implementation of the LBA on July 31, 2015, the government set up houses, gave electricity connections, distributed VGF cards, VGD (Vulnerable Group development) cards, placed solar panels, constructed roads, tube-wells, toilets, established schools and clinics in some of the remote areas.

Many residents were unhappy as they did not have a candidate contesting with the electoral symbol “boat”, the Awami League's symbol.

Shahtun Khatun, 55, said she was “finally freed from the curse of enclave” because of the initiative by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Alluding to GM Quader, she said, “Nevertheless, I will vote for her [Hasina's] candidate, I will pick plough [election symbol of Jatiya Party],” said the resident of Bhitorkuti in Kalurghat.

Asadul Hasib Dulu, president of Lalmonirhat BNP and Oikyafront nominee, pledged employment opportunities. Dulu said, “We will focus on education of the residents, including taking responsibility of meritorious but poor students.”

In Lalmonirhat-1, Lalmonirhat Awami League President Motahar Hossain is running. The constituency has 55 former enclaves.

If elected, development of infrastructures would continue in the areas, said Motahar. The Awami League would set up schools, colleges, and create employment opportunities, he added.

Children in Jashore's Malopara village still have nightmares of people coming to attack them. And with the election on the horizon, panic has spread even among the adults.

It stems from their experience of the election day on January 5, 2014, when Jamat-Shibir and BNP men unleashed their fury in a series of mindless attacks on the locals. 

They vandalised 130 houses of the Hindu community and torched 10 more in Malopara because the villagers had dared to cast votes. The attackers also looted valuables from the Hindu houses, the locals said.

Although many of the Jamaat-BNP men involved in those attacks have been arrested or are  on the run, a sense of foreboding prevails, particularly among the women and children of the village fishing community living on the banks of the Bhairab river. 

At least two families of the village have sent their young women to their relatives' homes as the polls near.

“I tried to convince my wife to stay home, but she insisted not to take any risk. I gave in to her resolve and sent her to a relative's house in Coat Chandpur in Jhenidah on Wednesday,” said Laltu Sarkar, a local.

Sumoti Sarkar, 14, and Sathi Sarkar, 7, two daughters of his elder brother also accompanied Laltu's wife.

Now an eight-grader, Sumoti was then a class VI student when 300 to 400 Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men wielding sharp weapons and hockey sticks attacked Malopara in Abhoynagar upazila in 2014.

Some 600 Hindus, including women and children, had to flee their village and seek shelter on the other side of the river. While many crossed the river by boats, others swam across.

“Sumoti is so traumatised that she still has nightmares of people coming to attack us,” Kali Dashi Sarkar, mother of Sumoti, told this correspondent while visiting the village on Wednesday.

The hallmark of the attack can still be seen on the tin-roof of Sumoti's house.

That was the third and final attack of the day that came following a rumour that Shibir activist Abu Bakkar had been beaten and killed by the Hindus.

Asked why people still feared the attacks as Jamaat-Shibir and BNP men were out of the area due to police raids, a number of villagers said it was because some of those attackers still roamed around the area freely.

Besides, some attackers had now engaged with the local Awami League, they added.

Earlier, the Jamaat-Shibir men attacked twice, but the residents had managed to resist them from entering the village, said Bishwajit Sarkar.

In the first attack, Bishwajit and five others, including Shyamol Biswas, Kamal Sarkar, Sunil Biswas and Susil Sarkar were seriously beaten.

Their second attempt to enter the village was thwarted by villagers, locals said.

Abhoynagar police lodged a case naming 39 accused. After investigation, police submitted a charge sheet accusing 100 people 16 FIR names were dropped.

A number of villagers said many who took part in the attacks were not made accused in the charge sheet. Some of those charge-sheeted secured bails.

Bishwajit, general secretary of ward-9 unit of Prembagh union, said the government had rebuilt 46 houses and renovated 26 others.

The prime minister visited the village on January 23 that year and before her visit they were also brought under national grid while the government built a primary school after purchasing a piece of land. A temporary police camp was built in the village, but they want it to be a permanent one.

Bishwajit said now they wanted to meet the PM as some of their demands -- for a permanent police camp, creation of jobs, lease of a nearby water body -- were still not fulfilled.

Though Lalmonirhat-3 has been a stronghold of the Jatiya Party, a partner in the Awami League-led grand alliance, since 1991, the Jatiya Oikyafront, led by the BNP and several other parties, is eyeing a win this time.

Oikyafront leaders said they are confident about victory as the opposition alliance fielded a well-known face in the constituency -- Lalmonirhat BNP President Asadul Habib Dulu.

Dulu will face JP Co-chair GM Quader, who was elected lawmaker twice from the constituency in 1996 and 2008. JP leader Riaz Uddin Ahmed won in the seat in 1991 and Dulu in 2001. AL leader Abu Saleh Mohammad Sayeed managed a victory in the 2014 polls when the JP fielded no candidate.

Dulu is the favourite this time as he is very well-known in the area and has always remained in contact with the voters, said Oikyafront sources.

“I am a local. So I know the sufferings of my people very well. Besides, I have worked really hard for the development of the district,” Dulu told The Daily Star on Monday.  

He termed his rival Quader, younger brother of JP chief HM Ershad, an outsider and claimed that he was totally disconnected from the voters. 

“Quader only visits the district before elections and disappears immediately,” Dulu said. “I believe the polls results will go in my favour if a peaceful voting environment is ensured.”

But Quader trashed the allegation.

“My opponents allege that I am an outsider. It is not true. In fact, I have a permanent home on the district's Hospital Road,” he told The Daily Star.

“I believe people will vote for me as I have been honest and always worked for the development of my constituency.”

Talking to these correspondents, SM Shafiqul Islam, president of the Lalmonirhat chapter of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik, a platform working for good governance, said, ”It doesn't matter whether a candidate is a local or an outsider. What matters here is whether the contender is free from corruption.” 

Nazir Ali, 62, a farmer living in Lalmonirhat Sadar's Sindurmati village, said he has always found Dulu by his side during bad times.

But Dilruba Begum, 48, another resident in the area, said though the BNP leader was popular, many locals were not happy about his party's close links with Jamaat-e-Islami, which opposed Bangladesh's birth during the 1971 Liberation War.

Sabed Ali, 62, of Kulaghat village in the district, said the “only plus point” for Quader was that he was contesting as the AL-led alliance candidate. “He has not done anything remarkable for us.”

Visiting different areas of Lalmonirhat Sadar, these correspondents saw Quader's campaign was underway in full-swing. His posters were almost everywhere.

On the other hand, Dulu and his supporters began an energetic campaign after the army deployment on Monday, said locals.

However, BNP posters were seen only at a few places.

BNP supporters alleged police harassment even during the night. They said many of their leaders were staying outside their homes to avoid arrest.

However, SM Rashidul Haque, superintendent of police in the district, denied the allegation.  “We are not harassing anyone. We are only arresting those who are accused in different cases.” 

Deputy Commissioner Shafiul Arif, district returning officer, said, “The election environment is peaceful and no unexpected incidents took place.”

The constituency has a total of 252,243 voters.

The UAE president, vice president and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi yesterday congratulated Bangladesh Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina on securing landslide victory in the 11th national election.

The UAE President Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, also Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Muhammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan greeted Hasina in separate messages.

“It pleases me very much to take this opportunity to send to your Excellency [Sheikh Hasina] my warmest congratulations and best wishes on securing absolute majority in the 11th parliamentary election,” they said in three separate identical messages.

The UAE top leaders wished continuous success of Hasina during her new tenure, welfare and prosperity for her friendly people.

They also expressed hope for further progress of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and the UAE for the benefit of both the friendly countries and their people.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Qatar, Deputy Emir and prime minister have also congratulated Hasina.

Qatar Emir Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Deputy Emir Abdullah Bin Hamad Al-Thani and Prime Minister Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al-Thani greeted Hasina in separate messages yesterday, reported BSS.

“It gives me pleasure, on the occasion of your landslide victory in Bangladesh's general election, to extend to you, on behalf of the people of the state of Qatar and my own behalf, our heartfelt greetings and felicitations,” Qatar Emir said in his statement.

He also wished Hasina's wellbeing and continued success as well as further progress and development of Bangladesh.

The Emir also expressed his hope that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Qatar would be further enhanced in the days to come.

In separate messages, the Deputy Emir and the prime minister also wished for wellbeing and continued success of Hasina during her new tenure.

Also, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering and Fijian Prime Minister Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday congratulated Hasina.

Former Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay greeted Hasina, saying her victory in the general election is good not only for Bangladesh but also for the region and the international community.

In a message, Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering said, “It gives me immense pleasure to extend warmest felicitations on her victory in the 11th parliamentary elections of Bangladesh.”

He said, “The landslide mandate secured by Sheikh Hasina is a clear demonstration of the deep confidence and trust the people of Bangladesh have in your leadership as you guide Bangladesh in fulfillment of the vision of Sonar Bangla.”

Lotay Tshering wished every success in discharging her duties during the coming tenure.

He expressed his firm conviction that the warm and cordial relations between Bhutan and Bangladesh would continue to strengthen and achieve new height in the true spirit of friendship and understanding.

The Bhutanese prime minister said he was looking forward to working closely with Bangladesh to further strengthen the ties and have the opportunity to receive Sheikh Hasina in Bhutan at a time of her convenience.

He also highly commended the PM's son and ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy for his tremendous contribution to her success.

“Sajeeb's tireless efforts and leadership is an immense inspiration to the people of Bangladesh and beyond,” he said.

Lotay Tshering wished good health of Hasina and peace, prosperity and happiness of the people of Bangladesh, reported UNB.

Fijian prime minister, in his congratulatory message, said, “The impressive victory of the Awami League with 288 seats of 300-member parliament is testament of the confidence of the people of Bangladesh in your [Hasina's] leadership and ability in progressing your country's economy.”

He said Fiji and Bangladesh share formal diplomatic ties since 2003, building up cooperation in the areas of trade and economic activities.

Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, commonly known as Frank Bainimarama, said he was looking forward to strengthening the friendship and advancing bilateral cooperation between the two counties.

He wished all the success of the Bangladesh government in its next tenure.

In a separate message, former Bhutanese prime minister Tshering Tobgay said, “The victory of Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh Awami League is good for Bangladesh, good for the region and good for the international community.”

Extending his heartiest congratulations to Hasina, he said internationally Hasina was seen as a role model of leadership who was playing a pivotal role in poverty alleviation, environmental conservation, women development and addressing the problems of physically challenged persons.

“I see your Excellency as an elder sister and am personally happy that you and Bangladesh Awami League have secured a landslide victory,” Tobgay said.

Pakistan has also welcomed the newly elected government in Bangladesh.

“We want Pakistan-Bangladesh relations to move forward in line with the 1974 tripartite agreement. We welcome the newly elected government in Bangladesh and hope and expect that it would help take the bilateral relationship away from the irritants that it has faced in the recent times,” Mohammad Faisal, spokesperson for the Pakistan foreign ministry, told the weekly briefing in Islamabad yesterday.

Muhammad Aurangzeb Haral, counsellor (press) of Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, sent the statement made in the briefing to the press in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh-India-Pakistan on April 9, 1974, signed the tripartite agreement on the repatriation of prisoners of war and civilian internees and for normalisation of relations in the sub-continent.