The process of enumeration of dwellers in the border enclaves between India and Bangladesh has begun, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Monday.
"The enumeration work in the Chitmahal enclaves of India and Bangladesh has started from today. This is a momentous day for my brothers and sisters of Chitmahal on both sides of the border. Because at the end of this process, they will realise their long-cherished dream of citizenship," Banerjee posted on Facebook.
In a historic move, India and Bangladesh in June ratified the over 40-year-old Land Boundary Agreement.
The agreement envisages transfer of 111 enclaves with a total area of 17,160.63 acres to Bangladesh, while Dhaka will transfer 51 enclaves with an area of 7,110.02 acres to India. A 6.1-km undefined border stretch will be demarcated.
The Indian parliament unanimously passed the constitution amendment bill to allow operationalisation of the 1974 India-Bangladesh agreement and its protocol inked in 2011.
