Enclave people call off fast-unto-death for 7 days
Leaders of India-Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee here on Thursday evening suspended a fast- unto-death programme of people living in enclaves in Bangladesh for seven days as per the district administration's request.
Over one hundred people of different enclaves in Panchagarh began fasting at Panchagarh Shaheed Minar in the morning to press the government to immediately swap enclaves with India under the 1974 Mujib-Indira treaty.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Ahasanul Pervez, who came to meet the people, said they are unable to meet the demand as it is an international issue but the high-ups in the government and the ministry concerned were informed.
Shalbari Enclave Chairman Sirajul Islam, also a leader of the committee, said, “We do not bother about who inked a protocol about enclave swapping with whom. We want to be Bangladeshi citizens. If the exchange does not begin, we will restart our programme.
"We no longer want to remain in an adverse and uncertain situation. We want to know from the prime ministers of both countries which country we belong to.”
He also said the enclave people of Shalbari will not light their lamps till the exchange.
Afterwards the committee held a discussion, where speakers expressed their frustration as no timeframe was mentioned in the agreement signed on Tuesday between India and Bangladesh for implementation of the exchange.
It was just a renewal of Mujib-Indira Treaty of 1974. Nothing new was added to the deal to relieve enclave people, they alleged.
They said people in enclaves live in awful conditions amid lack of adequate employment opportunities, infrastructure, educational institutions, electricity and medical facilities.
Sirajul, Puthimari enclave Chairman Toslimuddin and Garati enclave Chairman Mofizer Rahaman led the programme.
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