| Worst nightmare in enclave: isolated from mainland Bangladesh by an Indian strip of land, are still in the dark  Nighttime life is a bit nightmarish for the people of the cut-off enclave of Dahgram-Angarpota as power supply couldn''t be given there for lack of permission from the Indian side, the sufferers said, reports UNB. Many in the far-flung locality have learnt about the new government''s flagship agenda Vision 2021 under which in the country will be lighted through providing electricity, but the unfortunate inhabitants of the enclave, isolated from mainland Bangladesh by an Indian strip of land, are still in the dark as to when the darkness from their life will end. Some residents of the area, about 90 kilometers from Lalmonirhat district headquarters, lamented that the government had installed electric poles with wires in 1985, but power connection was yet to be given as Indian authorities do not allow electricity passing into the locality through the Tinbigha corridor which is owned by the neighboring country. According to Lalmonirhat district administration, Bangladesh had eneterd into an agreement with the then Indian govenrment in 1974 to get the Tinbigha corridor in exchange for Berubari enclave. As per the deal, Bangladesh handed over Barubari. But the other party didn''t reciprocate by making over the corridor. Indian authorities have cited a case long pending with court for which their parliament couldn''t ratify the treaty for the swap. Tinbiga is sitauted in Kuchbihar district in the West Bengal state of India. Follwing meetings and negotiations, finally on June 26, 1992, the stranded resdients of Dahgram-Angarpota got the facilitiy of conditional daytime access to the mainland through the corridor. Now the passage reamins open from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm. Around 20,000 residents of Dahagram-Angarpota area are yet to get their right to free movement, even after 38 years of independence of the country, as they have no free access to the mainland round the clock."We are free in daytime and stranded at night," Yusuf Ali, a local rickshaw workers'' leader, told a group of journalists who visited the enclave recently. He said though the country got independence in 1971, the residents of this enclave have got a limited freedom for movement to and from the mainland since June 26, 1992. The hapless people are also deprived of healthcare facilities, education and utility services.They do not get proper medical facilities from a lone 10-bed hospital at Dahagram due to insufficient physicians, staff and medicines. Dr Zillur Rahman, Medical Assistant of the hospital, said that there is only one MBBS doctor for the hospital who lives in Rangpur town and attends the hospital irregularly. "The doctor is not interested to stay in the hospital for lack of power and other facilities," he said. Around 100 patients visit the hospital a day. Another inhabitant of the enclave, Noor Banu, 50, said serious patients have to rush to Patgram Upazila Hospital passing through the Tinbigha corridor as there is no better treatment at the local hospital "It is difficult for us to take a patient, specially in case of a pregnant mother, to the upazila hospital at night as the corridor is shut after sundown. It requires lengthy official procedure to get special permission from the Indian Border Security Force authority to use the corridor at night," said another enclave-dweller. Nurul Islam, 60, a resident of Dahagram, said they are deprived of different civic amenities like power, proper education and so. The poor villagers have to wait for months to sell their cattle, particularly at times of urgent need, as Indian BSF doesn''t allow taking more than 10 cows a week through the corridor. Besides, they have to take an advance slip from the local chairman with a fee to take their animals to Patgram for sale. On the other hand, they cannot bring them back if not sold, they said. Abdul Motaleb, a teacher, said there is only one high school but no college in the area. He made a strong plea that the authorities of both the countries take steps for ensuring movement to and from the enclave through the Tinbigha corridor round the clock. http://www.newstoday-bd.com/frontpage.asp?newsdate=#19486 |
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