Enclave exchange committee turns into citizens' rights body

India, Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee has turned into a human rights organisation titled Citizen Rights Coordination Committee. 

In a general meeting held on Saturday at Panchagarh Government Auditorium, the leaders of India, Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee decided to dissolve the committee and form a 21-member Citizen Rights Coordination Committee.

The meeting unanimously made Moinul Haque the convener and Golam Mostafa and Mofizar Rahman joint conveners, while advocate Abraham Lincoln was made coordinator of the committee.   

Lawmaker Selina Jahan Lita was the chief guest and advocate Abraham Lincoln was special guest at the meeting.

The leaders from former 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh participated in the programme.

The leaders of Bangladesh and India chapters of the committee held an emergency meeting through video conferencing yesterday.

In the meeting, the leaders decided to dissolve the committee and form the rights organisation with three units -- one for Bangladesh, one for India and one for the Indian enclave dwellers who opted to go to the Indian mainland.

At midnight on July 31, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves inside Indian territory and 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh were attached to their respective countries. With this, about 40,000 people got identity in their states.

The leaders of the coordination committee told reporters that they are launching a new fight to protect human rights, history and heritage shared by the two countries.