Hasina for easy access to Bangladeshis in Indian enclaves

Dhaka, March 11 : Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has promised 24-hour access for Bangladeshis living in the Dahagram and Angarpota enclaves located within Indian territory.

Although Bangladesh is facing a power shortage, she also promised electricity supply to the inhabitants while speaking to them via videoconferencing Wednesday, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency reported.

Dahagram and Angarpota are the larger of the Bangladeshi enclaves in Indian territory. India too has enclaves in Bangladeshi territory caused by the demarcation of the international border with the then East Pakistan when the British partitioned the subcontinent in 1947.

"As this piece of land is isolated from the main land, we have greater responsibility to the people of the area," Hasina said while inaugurating free healthcare service of the Bangabandhu Memorial Trust for the people of the enclaves.

The arrangement, in force for six decades, has been that people till their lands in each other's territories and must return home before dusk.

Re-drawing of the border without disturbing the inhabitants was agreed by the two neighbours during Hasina's talks in New Delhi in January.

Hasina said action would be taken against doctors who do not stay at their stations, especially in rural areas.

"But we will also provide lucrative facilities to the doctors who will perform their duties properly at places like Dahagram-Angarpota," The Daily Star quoted her as saying.