By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
Most of the residents of Indian enclaves have sought Bangladeshi nationality while all those from Bangladeshi enclaves want Indian citizenship, preliminary findings of a joint survey
conducted recently said.
As the survey to record the ‘choice of nationality’ of around 53,000 people in 162 enclaves ended, it was found that only 1,006 out of around 39,000 residents of 111 Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh want Indian citizenship.
Most of the 1,006 people are from Hindu communities, the latest headcount suggests.
Some 200 people from Indian enclaves in Lalmonirhat district of Bangladesh want to go to mainland India and only two of them are Muslims.
On the other hand, all the 15,000 residents of 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in Indian district of Cooch Behar have chosen Indian nationality.
It has been estimated on the last day that some 483 residents of 36 enclaves in Panchagarh district, 200 people from 59 enclaves in Lalmonirhat, 341 people from 12 enclaves in Kurigram and two persons from four enclaves in Nilphamari have opted for
Indian nationality.
According to the officials of the joint survey, the total population of 162 enclaves was 51,549 in July 2011 headcount, but the population might have increased around 3,000 in the last four years.
As per the July 2011 census, the population in 111 Indian enclaves was 37,334 on an area of 24,270.65 acres of land.
The population in 51 Bangladesh enclaves inside Indian territory was 14,215 on 7,110 acres of land. So, the total population was 51,549.
Officials said the exact figure of total population, number of people willing to change their citizenship could be confirmed after the Eid vacation.
Citing example, they said the total population in 36 Indian enclaves located inside Panchagarh district now stands at 20,155 whereas it was 19,043 in July 2011 survey.
In the latest headcount, some 1,582 fresh names have been included and most of them are children born in between July 2011 to July 16, 2015. Besides, at least 279 names were excluded from the list for the cause of death.
In the four Nilphamari enclaves, the total population now stands at 545, up from 506 in July 2011.
Whereas the population in 59 Indian enclaves in Lalmonirhat district was 9,670 in July 2011 but it decreased to 9,437 because the remaining 233 people, who left for job in mainland India and Bangladesh, have not returned till Thursday.
Sources said some 75 joint teams comprising by the officials of India and Bangladesh began final survey on July 6 and it was completed.
The formal exchange of enclaves will begin from July 31 midnight, ending nearly seven-decade sufferings of the residents.
“Of the 75 teams, 25 worked in the Bangladeshi enclaves that will merge with Indian territory while 50 worked in the Indian enclaves which will come under Bangladesh territory,” said a foreign ministry official.
During the joint survey, the officials asked the residents basic questions like their names, age, parents’ names, current citizenship and citizenship they wish to acquire with effect from midnight July 31, which has been chosen as the ‘appointed day’.
