A joint team of Bangladeshi and Indian officials started a joint survey of the 162 enclaves yesterday by conducting a headcount and gathering the citizenship options.
The programme kicked off at Kalir Hat Bazar of Dashiar Chara -- the biggest Bangladeshi enclave. The census began with the enlistment of Razzak and Shahida.
Local Deputy Commissioner Khan Mohammad Nurul Amin assured the enclave residents that there was no reason for uncertainty. The has allocated Tk200 crore for the 111 Bangladeshi enclaves.
Meanwhile a 15-member Indian delegation arrived here for the census of the 12 Indian enclaves in Fulbari and Bhurungamari. A Bangladesh team is already in India to do similar work in the 51 Bangladeshi enclaves there.
On Sunday, a three-hour workshop was held with the Indian delegation at the hall room of Kurigram Sadar upazila. Besides, a control room has been set up at the DC office for coordination of land survey.
Mokhlesur Rahman, 27, of Dashiar Chara said that he would opt for Bangladesh as most of his relations stay here. But his father Ehsan Ali, 65, works in Delhi and so he does not know what his father’s choice would be.
Magistrate Sohel Maruf, who is in charge of the control room, said that 75 people from the two countries were working in the 162 enclaves for the census.
The headcount would be based on the Census of 2011 and only those who were born in the enclaves after that or were married to people settled there would be enumerated.
People living in the enclaves would have the choice of choosing their nationality even after the current survey, if they complete all formalities between August and November.
The enclaves will be transferred to the respective countries on the midnight of July 31. The current survey will continue till July 16. It will take into account population, households, possessed land, finances and socioeconomic status of the enclave dwellers.