Indo-Bangladesh enclaves

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Simplified map of part of the border area, near 26°15′43″N, 88°45′6″E showing some of the larger Indian enclaves in Bangladesh. There are many smaller enclaves in this region which are not shown.

More complete map of the exclaves. Top of the map is east.

The India-Bangladesh border in the Indian state of West Bengal has about 92 exclaves of Bangladesh, and 106 exclaves of India are within Bangladeshi soil. The enclaves were part of the high stake card games between two regional kings, centuries ago. The little territories were the result of a confused outcome of a treaty between the Kingdom of Cooch Behar and the Mughal Empire^[1].

After the partition of India in 1947, Cooch Behar was merged with India and Rangpur went to then East Pakistan, which became Bangladesh in 1971. In 1974, both countries agreed to exchange the enclaves or at least provide easy access to the enclaves, but since then little has materialised. Talks between the two countries on the issue resumed in 2001, but the lack of a concrete time frame has relegated the issue to the back burner.

The residents of the enclaves live in abysmal conditions, with a lack of water, roads, electricity, schools and medicines. Theft also is rampant, as complaining would mean crossing the international boundary, leading to complications. Residents of the enclaves may go to their respective countries on the production of an identity card, after seeking permission from the border guards, making many feel like caged animals.

[edit] List of Enclaves

[edit] Bangladesh Exclaves

• 1.Dohogram-Angorpotha

A Bangladeshi exclave administrated Pathgram upzila in Lalmonirhat zila lies wihtin the Indian province of West Bengal. The exclave has an area of 25 sq.km with a resident population of 20,000 people. The exclave lacks all facilities. The lone health complex remains virtually useless for lack of power supply as India refused to link the exclave with mainland Bangladesh with power supply lines.

[edit] Indian Exclaves

• 1.Dasiarchhara

Lies 3 km from India has an area of 7 km² with 9,000 inhabitants

[edit] External links

• "Waiting for the Esquimo: An historical and documentary study of the Cooch Behar enclaves of India and Bangladesh" door Brendan R. Whyte (SAGES, University of Melbourne, 2002, revised 2004)
• "Teen Bigha corridor cannot be used for Power supply to Dahogram–Angorpotha Enclaves" at The Daily Star.Net
• Map showing the locations of the enclaves

[edit] References

1. ^ "Theory of Enclaves" by Evgeny Vinokurov (2005) - Chapter 6: Enclave stories and case studies, page 117: Cooch Behar