Enclave survey to be done by mid-June

The decades-old issue of adversely possessed land (APL) along the border between Bangladesh and India is likely to be solved soon as by mid-June the countries will complete surveys in all four zones.
And within the deadline, head counts of people in enclaves will also be complete as 10 joint teams have already been formed and data forms have been prepared and awaiting Indian approval.
Official record shows India has 111 enclaves while Bangladesh has 51 enclaves, which are adversely possessed.
Joint Secretary (political) to the Home Ministry Kamal Uddin Ahmed said, "Joint survey committees have nearly completed APL surveys in Assam, Tripura and West Bengal zones. And the survey will be completed in Meghalaya zone by June 15."
He said directors general of survey departments in Bangladesh and India held a meeting in Tamabeel on May 12 to finalise strategic matters for carrying out boundary survey in Meghalaya.
Kamal said, "During the joint surveys of boundary, we have been putting 'point coordinate' on the maps. After approval of the survey outcome by both governments, concrete demarcation marks will be installed there."
Kamal said the countries are putting in relentless effort to end the dispute created decades ago by the Radcliff boundary line, created during the partition of India and Pakistan.
"We (Bangladesh-India) have utmost regard for human rights of the inhabitants in APL and enclaves because once they fall victim to misjudgement they will lose the nationality of their choice forever," he said.
APLs are around the international boundaries in four zones which are densely populated, he said adding that at ground level numerous problems arise relating to land records that required series of meetings of officials concerned of the two countries.
During the survey it was found that the Radcliff boundary goes through one's homestead segregating one's home from one's farmland posing a dilemma, he said, adding, “So we take proper steps for mutual benefit.”
He said in the third meeting of the Joint Boundary Working Group (JBWG) of November, it was decided that joint survey on APL and enclaves would be completed by January 15 but the deadline was extended twice and finally it was fixed on June 15.
Home ministry sources said they opted head counts instead of census in enclaves as many frustrated enclave dwellers might have deserted the place or moved to other convenient places selling their land.
So both the countries decided to conduct head counts, taking short list of fundamental data from the enclave dwellers.
Sources said head counts will include among other information individual's name, parents names, amount of land possessed by the individual, religion and nationality.
The home ministry sources said once the data form for the head counts is approved by India, it will take at most 15 days to complete the head count in the enclaves.
The APL and enclaves issues will be resolved in line with the Mujib-Indira Land Boundary Agreement, 1974.
Home Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar and his counterpart Gopal K Pillai in a fresh initiative had agreed to resolve the dispute at secretary level talks held in Dhaka early this year.
Home ministry sources said after completing ground level task in this regard, either Indian Home Minister P Chidambaram or Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Bangladesh to sign the agreements.