While the historic land swap between India and Bangladesh was implemented at midnight July 31, the population exchange is still pending with about 1,079 people from Bangladesh, who have opted for the Indian citizenship, yet to come either for a recce or to settle in Cooch Behar. This despite the Cooch Behar district administration building temporary shelters for them. According to the authorities, one of the probable reasons is that they were being unable to sell their land holdings in the Indian enclaves, which went to Bangladesh, at a fair price. In the land deal, India got over 7,100 acres while over 17,000 acres went to Bangladesh. A Shamoo, BSF DIG, Cooch Behar said that he had recently received a representation signed by about 25 people. “It said that the residents, who had opted to leave Bangladesh and wanted to come over to India, were either being offered as less as 10 per cent of the value of their holdings or were apprehensive that they would be forced to evict their residences without any monetary compensation,” Shamoo said. He added that the Indian government should ask Bangladesh to ensure proper valuation of the properties. The TMC MP from Cooch Behar, Renuka Sinha, conceded that there were some complications which were preventing Indians from enclaves in Bangladesh to return. “I had also written to the Central ministers such as Venkaiah Naidu, Rajnath Singh and Sushma Swaraj about the allegation that Indians were being forced to remain in Bangladesh and sought their intervention to end the logjam,” Sinha said. The Dinhata Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), Krishnava Ghosh, said that those wanting to shift their entire family are among the worst hit. “It is not much of an issue with people who had split families and are shifting partly to India. Their property can be kept in the custody of the other family members who have decided to stay back. But it is a genuine problem for those families who want to shift completely to India. I will bring it up in our next discussion with the higher authorities. It is a difficult problem to solve,” Ghosh said. The Indian Express spoke to Zokey Ahmed, Deputy High Commissioner for Bangladesh. Ahmed brushed aside all allegations that Bangladesh authorities were forcing Indians to stay back. “It is a matter of common sense. Why would we want to shoulder the burden of 40,000 people who want to return to India? The allegations are unfounded,” Ahmed said. P Ulganathan, DM, Cooch Behar, however said that people had not come because of the delay in completion of paperwork. “It is not so simple. Those who want to come here for a recce would need a multiple visa. For that they would have to approach the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh,” he said. Asked about the complaint received by Shamoo, he said, “It should be brought to my notice. There is a mechanism in place to handle these issues. I can take it up with the Bangladeshi authorities.”
