RANGPUR, Sept 3, 2022 (BSS) - Continuous development activities conducted by the government has already mainstreamed about 40,000 people in 111 erstwhile enclaves have been improving their living standard for the last seven years.
The change began soon after Bangladesh and India exchanged control of 162 enclaves on August 1, 2015, through implementing the historic Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) under the Mujib-Indira Accord of 1974.
From the very beginning, the government started implementing massive uplifts to facilitate infrastructure, education, sanitation, drinking water, jobs, income generation and other facilities in all former enclaves.
According to official sources, all families of former 111 enclaves situated in Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari and Panchagarh districts, have got power supply, hygienic sanitation and pure drinking water facilities.
Like in the other former enclaves, the Local Government and Engineering Department (LGED) has implemented massive infrastructural uplifts in the biggest erstwhile enclave Dashiarchhara under Fulbari upazila in Kurigram.
LGED has constructed three government primary schools, 23-kilometre paved roads, three community clinics, resource and learning centres, digital sub-centre, Shaheed Minar and many other facilities in Dashiarchhara.
Five high schools, a college, one madrasha, one school for autistic children and 15 pre-primary schools have also been established with private initiatives in Dashiarchhara alone.
Superintending Engineer of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Bayard (REB) at its Rangpur Zonal Office Engineer Syed Niaz Mohammad told BSS that the REB has reached electricity to every house in all former enclaves.
"By virtue of electrification, many power-run small scale cottage industries, factories and enterprises are being built in former enclaves creating employment for male and female youths there to improve their living standard," he added.
Talking to BSS, former enclave people narrated their speedy transformation toward prosperity and expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for implementing the LBA around seven years ago.
Abdul Khaleque of Kalirhat area in Dashiarchhara said former enclave people have got life anew after remaining deprived like stateless citizens and struggling for basic human rights for the previous 68 years till August 1, 2015.
"It seems miraculous to achieve citizenship, human rights, smart cards, voting rights, roads, bridges, culverts, educational institutions, assistance under social safety-net programmes and everything within only seven years," he added.
Abu Bakar Siddique of Kamalpur village in Dashiarchhara said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman liberated Bangladesh and his worthy daughter Sheikh Hasina has given freedom to former enclave people making them grateful.
Akbar Ali of Kamalpur area in Dashiarchhara said they are very happy getting houses, hygienic sanitation, e-services and health services at their doorsteps.
Housewife Aklima of Dashiarchhara said she feels herself as a complete human being in her own country and thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for speeding up developments in former enclaves.
Lailey Begum of former enclave Noya Banglagram under Dimla upazila in Nilphamari said they have got citizenship and ownership of land and various government facilities.
Student Rokeya Begum of Rajmahal High School at former Garati enclave in Panchagarh said local girls are studying under light of electric bulbs at homes and happily going to school riding on bicycles given by the government.
Former Chairman of erstwhile Garati enclave in Panchagarh Mofizar Rahman said all houses have got electricity, 32 schools, colleges and madrasas have been set up along with massive infrastructural developments in all former 36 enclaves there.
Additional Divisional Commissioner (Revenue) Muhammad Ibrahim Khan decades-old dreams of former enclave people have become true following speedy implementation of massive uplifts as per directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
