Dahagram celebrates while other enclaves unhappy

People of Dahagram-Angorpota enclave in Lalmonirhat bring out a 'victory' procession yesterday following a deal with India to keep its Tin Bigha corridor open for 24 hours.Photo: STAR

People of Dahagram--Angorpota brought out a victory procession yesterday as the governments of Bangladesh and India on Tuesday singed a protocol on keeping the Tin Bigha corridor open for 24 hours.
On the other hand, the inhibitants of other enclaves in the four northern districts are frustrated with the deal on exchange of enclaves as there is no time frame for implementation of the agreement.
Mofizer Rahaman, leader of Garati enclave in Panchagarh, yesterday said they will start fast unto death at the Shaheed Miniar in the district town today demanding early exchane of enclaves.
According to our Lalmonirhat correspondent, the people of Dahagram--Angorpota took out a victory procession in the enclave yesterday noon, hugged each other and distributed sweetmeat.
Kamal Hossain, 45, a resident of the enclave said, “We are happy as our long-time demand has been fulfilled. Now we are independent, we will take taste of independence.”
“Now we can freely move to the mainland as the Indian iron gate at Tin Bigha corridor remains open round the clock,” he said.
Mamtaz Uddin, 73, another resident of the enclave said, “We have become independent. Now we can freely move through Tin Bigha corridor as Indian restriction on our movement has gone with the signing of protocol.”
Our Thakurgaon correspondent reported that enclave people of four northern districts yesterday said the time frame on exchange of enclaves was not mentioned in the deal signed on Tuesday between India and Bangladesh.
The people of different enclaves in four northern districts on Tuesday gathered at different areas of the enclave to bring out processions. But they went back home with frustration as no specific time was mentioned for exchange of enclaves in the deal.
It was a renewal of Mujib-Indira Treaty of 1974. No new thing was added to the deal for relief of the enclave people, said Golam Mostafa, general secretary of Bangladesh-India Enclave Exchange Implementation Committee.
Mofizer Rahaman, leader of Garati enclave in Panchagarh, yesterday said the enclave people will start fast unto death at the Shaheed Minar in Panchagarh town today demanding immediate exchange of enclaves.
Assistant Secretary of Bangladesh-India Enclave Exchange Implementation Committee Deeptiman Sen Gupta told this correspondent over cellphone that the agreement is just a renewal of Mujib-Indira Accord of 1974. It will not bring any good results to the enclave people as there here is no specific time frame for exchange of enclaves.
According to official estimates, Bangladesh has 51 enclaves inside India. Similarly, India has 111 enclaves inside Bangladesh.
Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh are situated in four districts -- Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Nilphamari-- while all 51 Bangladeshi enclaves are in Indian Cooch Behar district.