<i>A 'different' border hurts their fraternal feeling</i>
Thousands not allowed to meet their near and dear ones during Pathar Kali Mela at Gobindapur
A woman talks over cellphone to her relative across the border from Gobindapur village in Haripur upazila of Thakurgaon district on Friday as the Indian Border Security Force, unlike other years, declined to give permission for face-to-face meeting on the border.
Frustration was a waiting thousands of Bangla speaking people from both sides of the border, who came to meet their near and dear ones on the occasion of Pathar Kali Mela at Gobindapur village under Haripur upazila in Thakurgaon district on Friday. Unlike every year this day, Indian Border Security Force (BSF) did not allow them to meet relatives from across the border. "This time our higher authority did not give us the permission to allow it," said a BSF man seeking anonymity. Expressing deep frustration after failing to meet their near relatives living on the other side of the border, many people could not check tears. People of the two neighbouring countries were seen waiting for hours on both sides of the barbed wire near border pillar No 346 adjoining Kochal and Chapshar border outpost. Some people including women and children went near the barbed wire fence with a hope to meet their near and dear ones, but they had to return after a short time as BSF men chased them. Traditional Pathar Kali Mela is held at the village on the bank of Kuli River on the first Friday after the Kali Puja since the British period, said Nagen Kumer Pal, president of mela committee. "Many people from different districts of the two countries came here to meet their relatives each year. They exchange greetings and heartily talk with their near and dear ones. BDR and BSF never create obstacle. But this was first time BSF denied to give chance to meet with their relatives," Nagen Pal said. After partition of the sub-continent in 1947, meeting among relatives living on two sides of the border became hard, especially for those who cannot afford the cost of official arrangement for travelling the other country. They come to the fair to take the rare opportunity, Nagen said. Tulshi Rani, 75, wife of Khitish Chandra of Chirirbandar village in Dinajpur district, said she came to Haripur upazila to meet with her two daughters and a son living at Abdul Ghata village in Uttar Dinajpur district in India. She had met them ten years ago. "I came here with a hope to see my children but it was unfulfilled. I brought some home-made foods including naru, muri, pitha for them," she said with tears rolling down her cheeks. Hamida Begum, 75, of Mohadebpur villager under Birganj upazila in Dinajpur, came to meet with her sister Hasen Banu, 62, who lives at Kachi Moha village under Royganj thana in Uttar Dinajpur district in India. "During the last 15 years, have not got any opportunity to meet her. Today I saw her for a few moments from far away and talked over cell phone. I would be very happy if I could see her and touch her from near," she said. Nazma, 25, who was married to Afazuddin of Jadabpur village under Haripur upazila in Thakurgaon five years ago, came to meet with her parents who live at Morol Tuli village under Royganj Thana in Uttar Dinajpur in India. "Each year I meet with my parents and relatives on this occasion. But this time I failed," she said and started crying. Many people were seen depressed while returning home with different things that they had brought for their near and dear ones. "Due to partition of the country, many people's relatives live on two sides of the border. The authorities should create opportunity for their meeting," said Tazul Islam, assistant professor of Ranishankoil Degree College. Seeking anonymity, a BSF member of Makorhat BSF camp said, "I also felt bad seeing frustration of people from both the countries but we have nothing to do as our higher authority did not give them permission to meet."
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