India, Bangladesh swap border enclaves, settle historic dispute; people rejoice

New Delhi: In accordance with steps agreed to between India and Bangladesh during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Bangladesh in June, the Bangladeshi enclaves in India and Indian enclaves in Bangladesh will be physically transferred to the other country with effect from midnight.

There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India which are to be exchanged pursuant to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol, instruments of ratification of which were exchanged during Prime Minister Modi's visit.

Following Prime Minister Modi's visit, much work has gone into ascertaining the nationality options of the enclave residents.

The Office of the Registrar General of India, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and DM, Cooch Behar and DCs of Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh, Kurigram and Nilphamari worked systematically and in a coordinated fashion to collect the options from the residents.

The actual option taking exercise was carried out by 75 teams operating in the enclaves in India and Bangladesh from July 6-16 this year. Thirty observers from both Governments were also present in the enclaves during this survey period.

Data from this joint exercise is now being verified by the Office of the Registrar General of India and the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.

After successfully completing the exercise of ascertaining nationality options of enclave residents, the ground has been prepared for the movement of such residents who exercise the option of moving from an Indian enclave to the Indian mainland.

Both Governments are working closely together to facilitate trouble-free movement of these residents before the stipulated date of November 30, 2015.

Other steps with regard to implementation of the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement and 2011 Protocol are underway in accordance with agreed modalities between Government of India and Bangladesh.