162 enclaves of India and Bangladesh were integrated with the main land with the execution of Land Border Agreement, 1974 between the two countries at midnight on 31 July 2015.
According to the agreement, 51 Bangladeshi enclaves situated at Indian soil in Coochbehar District of West Bengal amalgamated with India, while 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladeshi territory integrated with that country when the clock struck 12 at night.
Also, as the clock struck midnight, the boundary pillars known as British Pillars which demarcated enclave lands was dismantled.
Event Details
National Flags were hoisted in all the enclaves in both sides of the border at midnight Friday night. With this, a history of enclave exchange at midnight was created, in which dreams of thousands of enclave dwellers came into reality after 68 years of struggle.
Those who have decided to move have been promised safe and secure passage with personal belongings & movable property till 30 November 2015. Ban on property sale imposed since 6 July 2024 will be lifted to allow those moving, to sell their land.
The transfer helped about 50000 people to get citizenship of either country, bringing them access to all legal rights and civic amenities.
This enclave exchange under the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement was effected during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bangladesh in June 2015 visit and it helped in redrawing the maps of the two countries.