4th anniversary observed
The residents of 36 former enclaves in Panchagarh have observed the fourth anniversary of the historic deal on the exchange of enclaves between Bangladesh and India, which ended the virtual statelessness of these people.
The celebration programmes including a procession, a discussion, and cultural events were held in the last two days.
On the midnight of July 31 in 2015, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves inside India and 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh were attached to the respective countries.
With this, about 40,000 people living in the Indian enclaves got Bangladeshi identity, access to government services as citizens of this country, and eventually a chance of a better life. The 111 former Indian enclaves were located in four districts -- 36 in Panchagarh and the rest in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat and Nilphamari.
On the occasion, the former enclave people demanded declaration of July 31 as “Enclave Exchange Day” and enrolment of the teachers of the enclaves’ educational institutions in the government’s monthly pay order or MPO scheme.
They included their demands in a memorandum submitted Wednesday to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through Panchagarh Deputy Commissioner Sabina Yasmin.
Earlier in the day, they gathered at Sher-e-Bangla Park in the district town, brought out a colourful procession and paraded different streets before ending it at the DC office.
On the afternoon, a discussion and a cultural function were held on Mofizar Rahman Degree College premises at Grati village (a former enclave village) in the sadar upazila. Later, the residents placed floral wreaths at Shaheed Minar on the college ground on the eve of the anniversary -- at 12:01am on Thursday -- and lit candles there.
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