A Bangladeshi woman, living in an enclave near the international border on the Indian side, has given birth to a child at a hospital in Cooch Behar district, her nearest medical facility.
Superintendent of Dinhata Hospital Dr Nikhil Das said Asma Bibi (25), admitted on humanitarian grounds in a case of emergency, gave birth to the male baby on Monday. Both the mother and child are doing fine.
Asma's husband Shajahan said since she was in great pain and there was no hospital nearby on the other side, he had to contact leaders of India-Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Co-ordination Committee who facilitated her shifting to Dinhata hospital with the help of security.
Thanking the hospital authorities for admitting the woman, enclave committee spokesman Diptiman Sengupta said the authorities should issue a birth certificate to the newborn as otherwise a movement would be waged.
About the possibility of arrest of the Bangladeshi couple for getting medical facilities in India without papers, Dinhata Sub-Divisional Officer Chiranjib Ghosh said the administration was yet to decide on the matter.
There are 126 Indian enclaves (chhitmahals) on Bangladesh side and 96 Bangladeshi enclaves on Indian territory with movement allowed during certain period of time.