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Gloom on Indo-Bangla border

Last Updated 28 July 2015, 19:16 IST
APJ Abdul Kalam was not a familiar name in the enclaves that dot the India-Bangladesh border and account for nearly 55,000 people. After living without identity or nationality for nearly seven decades, these people find it difficult to understand why they will not be able to hoist the Tricolour they will formally attach their allegiance with on July 31 midnight.

Muhammad Ali, who has been living since 1947 at the Bangladeshi enclave of Bhatrigachhi in India, failed to understand why he can mark the momentous occasion with traditional songs and a feast, but not raise the Tricolour. The exasperated 79-year-old asked on Tuesday: “How can there be independence without flag-hoisting?”When explained that the former president’s demise calls for seven days’ national mourning, which entails flying the flag at half-mast, he said: “We have waited for 68 years. I guess we can wait for seven more days.”

However, it was clear he refused to accept this as a justifiable reason to tone down the celebrations. Most residents of Bangladeshi enclaves in India echoed Ali’s feelings. India and Bangladesh jointly chose the midnight of July 31 to formally exchange the enclaves, following the ratification of the land agreement signed in 1974 earlier this year.

Functionaries of the Bharat Bangladesh Enclaves Exchange Coordination Committee, the organisation spearheading the movement to realise the deal, also feel dejected. Its chief coordinator, Diptiman Sengupta, said they have been in touch with officials to rework the details as per protocol.

“We will have our programme as scheduled, barring the flag-hoisting. We have scaled down the cultural events, but the other programmes will take place. We plan the symbolic flag-hoisting after August 4, when the national mourning ends,” he said.
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(Published 28 July 2015, 19:16 IST)

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