Editorial
PM's auspicious visit to the enclaves
Exchange of other enclaves should be facilitated
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to the Dahagram-Angorpota enclaves since the recent opening of the Tin Bigha corridor for 24 hours to connect with the mainland is a cheering piece of news. Two important Indian ministers joined her to usher in a new phase in the neighbourly relations. Our prime minister heralded the change by providing the enclaves with electricity and opening an upazila office.
The inhabitants have got a new lease of life after living in a bSSeleaguered state for more than four decades. They have virtually been in this state for over six decades since the subcontinent was partitioned between India and Pakistan in 1947. After Bangladesh became independent, an agreement was signed between the then Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi in 1974 to lease out the Indian enclave of South Berubari in perpetuity in exchange for the Tin Bigha corridor under similar conditions in order to allow free movement of the inhabitants of Bangladesh enclave Dahagram-Angorpota.
Though some partial arrangements for six-hour and 12-hour free movement of the enclave people was allowed through the corridor in 1992 and 1996, they got the real taste of freedom of 24 hours movement on September 8 this year only after the Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh and Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina inked the last agreement.
Naturally, the population of Dahagram-Angorpota went euphoric when the prime minister flew in to share their sentiments.
Now that they have got those rights and privileges denied so long, they should have unfettered access to all facilities in the mainland coupled with goodwill from the Indian side.
The wind of change now blowing in the relationship between Bangladesh and India has made that possible. We hope, like the dwellers of Dahagram-Angorpota, people of other Bangladesh enclaves in India would also benefit from speedy completion of exchange formalities.
We appreciate all these and believe that the arrangements would work out bringing good rapport, peace and prosperity in the region.
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