Enclave dwellers unlikely to be on voters' list

They were deprived in 1990, 1995 and 2000 of their rights to franchise, as Indian government had not issued them any transit pass.

A total of 18 enclaves of Kurigram and 33 of Lalmonirhat are in the district of Kuchbihar under West Bengal in India. These enclaves have in fact been totally isolated from its mainland, Bangladesh. As a result the inhabitants of these enclaves are deprived of state facilities let alone their rights to franchise, sources said.

Though they are the citizens of Bangladesh no census has been conducted so far on them nor their names have been included in the electoral rolls.

There are two enclaves of Fulbari upazila of Kurigram district and 16 of Bhurungamari upazila of Kurigram district inside India. In 1983 enumerators and supervisors led by an assistant registration officer received permission to enter eight enclaves and prepare voters' list for the first time through the issuance of pass by the Indian authorities. But they are yet to exercise their rights to vote.

During the preparation of voter list in 1990 inhabitants of these enclaves, including those eight were not enlisted in the electoral roll, but some of those enclave dwellers stealthily dodging the vigilant eyes of BSF got their name enlisted raising the total number to 4,000.

After that in 1995 and 2000 they were not also included in the voter lists.

Menwhile, Bhurungamari Upazila Nirbahi Officer on September 18 in a letter to the election commission secretary requested to take appropriate measures to prepare voter lists of the enclave dwellers.

Deputy commissioner Azizar Rahman Mollah said letters are being exchanged for taking necessary measures in this regard.

A reliable source said the Indian side is not responding triggering confusion among the enclave dwellers about their inclusion in the voters' list.