Bangladesh and India will finally swap tiny islands of land this week, putting an end to one of the world's most difficult border disputes that has kept thousands of people in a stateless limbo for almost 70 years.
At one minute past midnight on Friday, some 50,000 residents along the border will light candles and celebrate their 'new found freedom' following the historic deal sealed between Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, the Dawn reported.
Under the agreement that was finalised in June, the 'islands' will effectively cease to exist, as each country will assume sovereignty over all the enclaves in its territory.
Residents can choose to live in India or Bangladesh and will be granted citizenship. They can stay put or choose to move across the 4,000 km long border.
Indian Prime Minister Modi has compared the agreement to the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, while his counterpart Sheikh Hasina says a humanitarian issue has come to a peaceful end.
With the land swapping less than 48 hours away, excitement has gripped the enclaves, with villagers holding feasts and rehearsing their new national anthem.