Enclave people call off hunger strike
Enclave people yesterday called off their indefinite hunger strike at the request of a lawmaker.
Lawmaker Farida Akhter reached the venue in Boda upazila of Panchagarh district in the afternoon and assured the enclave people that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would take effective steps to meet their demands as soon as possible.
“As a representative of the prime minister, I have come here to convey the assurance of the government and request you to end the hunger strike,” she told the agitating enclave people.
Indian Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to arrive in Dhaka on May 5. During his visit, all pending bilateral issues, including water sharing and enclave, will be discussed, the lawmaker said.
After her speech, president of India-Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee Moinul Haque announced withdrawal of the hunger strike. But he also vowed to continue agitation until the demands were met.
Taslimuddin, chairman of Puthimari Indian enclave, Mofizer Rahaman, chairman of Garati Indian enclave, and chairman of Kajoldighi Indian enclave were present.
Later, they (enclave people) ended their hunger strike by sipping juice and coconut water offered by the lawmaker.
Enclave people went on an indefinite hunger strike on March 18 to press home their three-point demand including immediate implementation of India-Bangladesh land boundary agreement of 1974, popularly known as Indira-Mujib Pact.
They also demanded a definite timeframe to implement the enclave exchange deal.
People from all 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh took part in the strike held beside Dhaka-Panchagarh Highway near Puthimari Indian enclave.
Bangladesh has 51 enclaves comprising around 3,000 acres of adversely possessed land inside India while India has 111 enclaves comprising 3,500 acres of land inside Bangladesh.
Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh are situated in Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram and Nilphamari districts while Bangladesh enclaves are in Indian Cooch Behar district.
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