The Dahagram-Angarpota Free Day was observed at the Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat in a befitting manner yesterday.
On this day in 1992, people of the Dahagram-Angarpota enclaves got the formal permission of free movement for six hours through India’s Tin Bigha corridor after a long struggle.
Since that day, people of the enclaves have been observing June 26 as the Dahagram-Angarpota Free Day.
Although the Dahagram people now have 24 hours’ access to Tin Bigha to travel in the mainland, they are facing repression by the hands of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF).
During the whole of last year, they were harassed by the BSF on several occasions.
Three were injured and one died in BSF firing.
Although the gate is open for 24 hours, the enclave people still remain captive. Every day they face security searches by the BSF.
Dahagram people complained that they are still not free in the independent country and it is their fate to face BSF repression.
There are 17,000 inhabitants in the 23 square kilometre area of the Dahagram-Angarpota enclaves.
On June 26, 1992, the Tin Bigha corridor was opened for a six-hour movement.
On April 27, 2001, the gate was opened for 12 hours during the day.
On October 19, 2011, the corridor gate was opened for 24 hours under the initiative of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
But the people of the enclaves are still facing various problems and repression at the hands of BSF.
The locals are not permitted to buy and transport cattle to Dahagram through the corridor gate.
They are also barred from selling cattle at the Sadar haat in the Patgram upazila. Buses cannot move through the gate, and since the gate is very narrow, accidents take place frequently.
The enclave dwellers have been demanding the nationalisation of the Dahagram High School and the opening of a college for a very long time.
Dahagram inhabitants Kabir Hossain, 23, Ali Mia, 45, and college student Shefali Begum, 20, complained that if any one talks over mobile phone standing beside the corridor, BSF men take them to their camp and torture them there.
Dahagram UP chairman Habibur Rahman Habib said they demand free movement of the people with essential commodities through the corridor.
President of the Dahagram Development Movement Council Rezanur Rahman Reza said the Indian authorities have built 15-foot high wall around the Tin Bigha corridor, because of which the people of Dahagram-Angarpota enclaves get scared.
They fear that they would again be made captives by the barbed wire fence built by India.
On this day, the people here raised their demands for full implementation of the 1974 Indira-Mujib Agreement by resolving some small problems and the ensuring free movement of the enclave people for 24 hours.
The programme includes milad mahfil, a colourful rally and a discussion.