Dahagram–Angarpota is a Bangladeshi enclave in India about 200 m (660 ft) away from the border of Bangladesh.[1][2] It had a population of 17,000 people in 2014.[3] Dahagram–Angarpota was the second largest (the biggest Bangladeshi) and is the only remaining enclave after the 2015 resolution of the India–Bangladesh enclaves issue. The enclave is connected to mainland Bangladesh by the Tin Bigha Corridor, which is situated in Patgram Upazila of Lamonirhat district. It is surrounded by Cooch Behar district of India's West Bengal state. The Teesta river flows on its western side.
Dahagram | |
|---|---|
 Ten-bed Dahagram Hospital | |
  Dahagram Map of Dahagram Upazila in Bangladesh  Dahagram Dahagram (Bangladesh) | |
| Coordinates: 26°18′1″N 88°56′43″E / 26.30028°N 88.94528°E | |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 10,040 |
History edit
In 1954 Pakistan and India signed a treaty over the Dahagram–Angarpota and Berubari enclaves. Dahagram–Angarpota, according to the treaty, was meant to go to Pakistan while Berubari was to be divided between India and Pakistan, North Berubari going to India and South Berubari to Pakistan. The treaty was not ratified as it faced legal challenges in India. In 1971 Bangladesh became independent from Pakistan. Bangladesh and India proceeded to sign a new treaty.[4] The 1974 Indira-Mujib pact was signed which protected the status of Dahagram–Angarpota and in return Bangladesh gave India the whole of Berubari village.[5][6] This was challenged in Bangladeshi courts but it was resolved quickly and the treaty ratified in 1974.[4] The treaty provided Bangladesh with the Tin Bigha Corridor that connected the enclave with mainland Bangladesh. The corridor started functioning in 1992 when it was open for a few hours every day. Since 2011 the corridor has been open for 23 hours a day.[1][failed verification] The corridor is closed for one hour every day so that the Border Security Force of India can raise the Indian flag in the corridor. BSF controls the corridor and the gates.[citation needed] The area has seen limited development through the opening of a clinic, school, and market.[3]
Demographics edit
Dahagram Union had a population of 10,040 as per the 2011 census, living in two villages: Dahagram and Angarpota. Nearly the entire population is Muslim, with a religious minority of 56 Hindus.[7]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "Dahagram-Angarpota remains in Bangladesh". The Daily Observer. 2015-08-02. Archived from the original on 2017-04-12. Retrieved 2017-04-11.
- ^ "Dahgram–Angarpota remains in Bangladesh". bdnews24.com. 2015-08-01.
- ^ a b Mohammad Jamil Khan (2014-01-13). "Angarpota-Dahagram residents still hostage to Tin Bigha Corridor". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 2017-04-12.
- ^ a b Diener, Alexander C. (2010). Borderlines and Borderlands: Political Oddities at the Edge of the Nation-State. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 23. ISBN 978-0-7425-5635-5. OCLC 667271500.
- ^ Bhattacharya, Ananya (2015-06-01). "India-Bangladesh enclaves: Life in the islands on land". Daily O.
- ^ "Map Location".
- ^ "Community Series: Lalmonihat" (PDF). bbs.gov.bd. Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics. 2011.