The dwellers of former Indian exclaves hoisted the red and green flag at daybreak yesterday to celebrate their first day as Bangladeshis.
On behalf of the government, the local upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) hoisted Bangladesh’s flags in the presence of the dwellers of the new land. The hoisting was accompanied by singing of the national anthem of Bangladesh.
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In order to maintain law and order in the new teritorries, law enforcers set up security camps and the primary education centres started operation at the local mosques.
Laila Muntajeri Deena, UNO of Panchagarh sadar, said: “We have received the new Bangladeshi citizens, who remained stateless for 68 years, and the new lands by hoisting our national flag,” she said.
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Locals celebrated the day by cutting cakes and distributing sweets among fellows.
Altab Hossain, now a resident of a new land and president of the coordination committee of former exclave Dasiar Chhara, said: “We have observed the first day of our citizenship through various programmes.”
A discussion was held after cutting cake at 9am followed by cultural events in the second half of the day.
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“The day is historic for us...It came after decades of darkness,” he said.
A total of 111 former Indian exclaves were added to the Bangladesh territory at 12:01am yesterday.
Sixty-eight candles, one for each year that the so-called chhitmahals have been in existence, were lit up at the same time across all the 111 new territories that passed into Bangladeshi sovereignty.
