In the wake of the land swap between Bangladesh and India that followed the implementation of the Land Boundary Agreement, some people are finding it difficult fitting in.
One man, Mofiz Uddin, has petitioned to have himself, his children and his exclave resident spouse, put on the list of those seeking Indian nationality.
Mofiz’s story is important because his petition is based on the fact that his spouse is a resident of a former exclave, though he himself is not, and that her family subsequently should be able to exercise the option of becoming Indian citizens.
He is the only Bangladesh-born person affected by the exclave swap to have petitioned on behalf of his family in neighbouring India’s Cooch Bihar. He claims his family failed to enlist themselves for Indian citizenship due to threats made by locals.
Some say he is attempting to use the international agreement as a back door into India.
Mofiz’s situation highlights the complexities of citizenship and residency rights.
To determine the authenticity of his petition, an India-Bangladesh joint team yesterday held a hearing in Dasiar Chhara in Kurigram district’s Phulbari upazila.
While a two-member Indian delegation came to Bangladesh through the Burimari Land Port in the morning, District Magistrate Rabindra Nath Bose of Mekhaliganj, Cooch Behar, went to Dasiar Chhara to verify Mofiz’s claims.
Phulbari Upazila Nirbahi Officer Nasir Uddin Mahmood accompanied him at the hearing.
Mofiz, his wife and three of their children were not at the hearing, since they reside in India. Only Mofiz’s son, Moksedul, was in the village for he hearing.
The joint team officers interviewed Idris Ali, brother of Mogor Ali – Mofiz’s brother-in-law with whom Moksedul is residing – because Mogor is physically disabled.
They also interviewed Moksedul.
“His whole family lives in India. We found one son, 11-year-old Moksedul, who told us his family prefers Indian citizenship. We will take further steps according to the report filed by the inquiry officer,” he said.
Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Nurul Amin on Monday told the Dhaka Tribune that the name of the six members of Mofiz’s family were not in the 2011 head count list.
“We do not know why they complained to the Cooch Behar administration,” he added.
The Dhaka Tribune has learnt that Mofiz was in fact included in the original 2011 survey. His head count number was 1,183.
Mofiz’s story
Mofiz hails from a village in Kashiani union parishad under Phulbari upazila in Kurigram. His village is not a former exclave.
Fifteen years ago, he married Manju Begum, 35, a resident of Dasiar Chhara, a former Indian exclave within Bangladesh’s Kurigram district. Manju lived in ward 3 of Dasiar Chhara. It was Mofiz’s second marriage.
Mofiz later took a job at a brick field in Delhi and took his wife there. The couple had four children there: Monira Begum,13, Mohammad Moksedul Haque, 11, Mojidul Islam, 8, and Monisha Khatun, 6.
Mofiz regularly visited Bangladesh for a few days each year and then returned to India.
Mofiz was included in the 2011 joint survey which serves as the basis to determine who may seek repatriation because of residency in the exclaves.
His inclusion is disputed by a Bangladeshi local administration official, but harassment by locals is part of Mofiz’s petition. He filed a complaint in the Indian district of Cooch Behar, instead of in Bangladesh.
Three years ago, he brought his son Moksedul to Bangladesh and left him at his brother-in-law Mogor Ali’s house.
“My family lives in India, but I am here with my aunt Monowara Begum’s family. I want to live where my father wants us to live,” Moksedul, a third grade student at the local Talukder School, told the Dhaka Tribune.
Mofiz visited Bangladesh on July 14, two days before the joint survey ended.
“He came to include his name on the list to choose Indian citizenship, but he failed,” said Idris Ali, another of Mofiz’s brothers-in-law.