The only way to move 22,000 people in the Dahagram-Angarpota enclave is the three-bigha corridor. India leased it to Bangladesh in September 2011 for ease of travel. Although it was decided to keep the corridor open 24 hours a day as per the agreement between the two countries, the corridor is still in the possession of the Indians. The Indian government is not abiding by the terms of the agreement.
It is located in the Meghliganj subdivision of Cooch Behar district of West Bengal, India, and Patgram upazila of Lalmonirhat, Bangladesh. It is an independent land on the Bangladesh-India border that is owned by India.
This corridor is located in an area of only three bigha. Citizens of the two countries travel through this narrow road. In addition, members of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) are on duty in the middle of the road.
According to the Mujib-Indira agreement of 1974, the area of the three-bigha corridor handed over was supposed to be 178 meters in length and 85 meters in width. However, the former enclave residents are getting the opportunity to use only a 9-foot narrow road. As a result, about 22,000 Dahagram residents have to cross through endless suffering and various problems.
In addition, Dahagram-Angarpota residents have to travel over the three-bigha corridor with impeccable security through a combination of BSF check posts, CCTV cameras, traffic posts, observation towers, etc. When four- and six-wheeled vehicles enter the current 9-foot road, all types of vehicles have to wait at Panbari or Dahagram post.
After the vehicles cross, the waiting vehicles start coming and going. As a result of installing light posts and flower pots on both sides of the corridor, the corridor has become 9-10 feet wide. Many times, if Indian installations are damaged by car bumpers or transported goods, Bangladeshis face various harassments and fines.
Liberty News’ national correspondent reports that on September 6, 2011, according to an agreement between the Bangladesh and Indian governments, it was decided to open the corridor 24 hours a day. Although the corridor was declared open on October 19, 2011, the gate of the three-acre corridor is still in the possession of the Indians.
LND/SAKIB
