Crowds cheer Bangladesh-India land swap after 70 years in limbo

Bangladesh: Jubilant crowds celebrated Saturday as Bangladesh and India swapped tiny islands of land, ending one of the world's most intractable border disputes that has kept thousands in limbo for nearly seven decades. 


As the clock struck one minute past midnight (1801 GMT Friday), thousands of people who have been living without schools, clinics or power for a generation erupted in cheers of celebration for their new citizenship.

"We have been in dark for 68 years," said Russel Khandaker, 20, as he danced with friends in the Dashiar Chhara enclave, which belonged to India but has now became part of Bangladesh.
"We've finally seen the light," he told AFP.

A total of 162 tiny islands of land - 111 in Bangladesh and 51 in India - were officially handed over to the countries surrounding them Saturday after Dhaka and New Delhi struck a border agreement in June.
The land-swap means some 50,000 people who have been living in the isolated enclaves since 1947 will now become part of the countries that surround their homes.

In Dashiar Chhara, thousands of people defied monsoon rains to celebrate, marching through rain-soaked muddy roads singing the Bangladeshi national anthem and shouting: "My country, your country. Bangladesh! Bangladesh!"

Others lit 68 candles to mark the end of "68 years of endless pain and indignity."
Sharifa Akter, 20, held a candle in her hand and smiled. "I can now fulfil my dream to be a top government bureaucrat," she told AFP.

"We're now human beings with full human rights," said Maidul Islam, 18, of the handover.
Officials from Bangladesh and India hoisted their respective national flags over their new territories Saturday morning in formal ceremonies....
 AFP
 dailystar.com.lb
1/8/15
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• Thousands applaud India-Bangladesh border pact 

• India, Bangladesh sign boundary deal