Eid joy for enclave dwellers Aug 1

Idris Ali Mia brought crackers home, but not for Eid that is being celebrated in West Bengal today.

He brought those home to enjoy the night of August 1, the day that will register his first day of freedom that he never knew since birth.

Idris Mia is a dweller of Poaturkuthir enclave – a piece of Bangladesh’s land inside Indian territory, and there are 3,000 others like him in that land, reports our Kolkata correspondent.

From what could be seen in some enclaves inside India today, dwellers there were observing Eid from religious perspective only. They are waiting for August 1 to celebrate – the day when they will be officially recognised as citizens.

According to the Land Boundary Agreement, Bangladesh and India will begin exchange of enclaves from July 31 midnight and until that time enclave dwellers can choose their nationality of choice.

“This time we will observe Eid’s celebrations on August 1,” said Saddam Mia, a youth of Poaturkuthir enclave, while returning home after Eid morning prayers. “We are no more enclave dwellers from that day. We will be citizens of independent country.”

Diptiman Sengupta, leader of Bangladesh-India enclave exchange coordination committee, echoed the same and hoped that the celebration of August 1 will be one to remember.