Enclave dwellers in a dilemma as India and Bangladesh get ready to implement Land Boundary Agreement

Over 900 dwellers living in Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh have decided to cross over to India and claim citizenship in hope for a better future. But that decision is fraught with distress, confusion and a lot of worry.

Dwellers of the Indian enclave called Bashkatha in northern Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat district have to leave their place of stay they called home for three generations. Sadananda Burman, a devout Hindu who heads a family of eight, has decided to pack his belongings and leave for India. The adjacent Dharala river has eroded some 100 acres of the enclave in the last decade and has gobbled up his house twice forcing his family to spend nights under open sky for months before he could build a new one.

The river has again come precariously close to his latest home and Burman can't take any further chances. He has availed of the option to become an Indian citizen following the exchange of enclaves but the uncertain future on the other side of the border keeps him worried stiff.

Sadananda Burman said, "I am forced to leave this land of my forefathers and I don't even know where the Indian government will make me go. I am at their mercy now."

It is clear that an overwhelming majority of Hindus living in Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh have decided to cross over to India. But even then the uncertainty over whether or not they can sell their properties before leaving is what is bothering them the most.

Sadananda Burman's neighbour Ashwini too has opted for India but is currently in great dilemma over his property which he holds with documents that's recognised neither in India nor Bangladesh. He now wants to send only a part of his family to the other side and himself stay back to guard his house and his small tract of land.

Ashwini Burman said, "I want to send my son and his family and my daughter to India. But since I have a little bit of property here and I don't know what to do with them, I am now considering staying back with my wife."

But there are exceptions too. Unlike remaining members of his family, 33-year-old Hriday Burman has decided to stay back with his wife and children. The enclave once housed some 200 Hindu families. With most already having migrated to India, only 19 are now left. And with other Hindu families now deciding to cross over, Hriday would be the only Hindu left amid his Muslim neighbours.

Hriday Burman said, "Those who have left before and those who are leaving now are mainly doing it for the fear of religious persecution. But that fear is unfounded. The Muslims and Hindus have always lived here in peace."

But the majority who have decided to stay back and accept Bangladeshi citizenship have their concerns as well.

Md Nurul Islam said, "I am a bit worried about whether the Bangladesh government would recognise our property deeds which are signed on white papers."

And there's also sadness in the air with their neighbours leaving.

"We lived like friendly neighbours for so long... but for some reason they have decided to leave. We feel very sad and we request them to stay back. "said Islam.

The option of Indian citizenship among enclave dwellers in Bangladesh has also divided families here and added to their dilemma about whether it would be prudent to uproot themselves from their land. While the elders are having second thoughts about crossing over, the younger generation is pretty confident about moving to India which they consider a land of opportunities.

The extended Roy family of the Dohola Khagrabari enclave in Panchagarh district is divided about migrating to India. The elders in the family are skeptical about the promised opportunities on the other side of the border. Their children, however, are already dreaming about a better future in India.

Dinohari Roy said, "The government has promised us many things once we go to India. But we are not sure whether they will deliver. So we are giving our decision a second thought."

Dinohari's son Manik said, "My father has worked all his life but has still not managed to build a house of his own. I want to go to India and work so that one day I can have a house of my own."

But despite the heartbreaks, confusion and worry among these enclave dwellers it is difficult to miss the joy in anticipation of a freedom that these people have been waiting for the past seven decades.