ENCLAVE DWELLERS' IN INDIA

Former enclave-dwellers from Bangladesh step in India

65 members of 19 families from erstwhile enclaves (Chhitmahals) situated in Bangladesh territory arrived today through Changrabandha International Checkpost (ICP). Senior officials of Cooch Behar district administration welcomed them. They were brought by vehicles into India at about 1-15pm. After a brief welcome ceremony they were sent to makeshift houses (rehabilitation centres) newly built for them at Mekhliganj Agriculture Farm. The administration has made all facilities for their comfortable living there.

Cooch Behar MP Renuka Sinha, District Magistrate P Ulganathan, Additional District Magistrate Ayesha Rani and Cooch Behar SP Rajesh Kumar Yadav were among the officials present on the occasion today.

The members of 19 families that opted to come to India after official exchange of enclaves between India and Bangladesh came in today passing through Changrabandha-Burimari Border Checkpost. They were welcomed by folk dance and folk songs. A Blue-White pandal was erected for the programme at Zero-point of the border. Also, arrangements were made for them for foreign exchange.

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t was learnt that they will get facilities like Bank accounts and AADHAR cards soon. After two years, permanent shelters will be arranged for them. Now, during the first month the new comers will be provided with cooked food. Children would get special foods like milk and eggs. After one month they will get essential commodities in free through ration system.

On 31 July midnight, 111 enclaves of India and 51 enclaves of Bangladesh were exchanged. After that 991 members of 220 families of the enclaves expressed their eagerness to come to India. From today they will come phase by phase. Cooch Behar district administration made arrangements for their stay at rehabilitation centres built at Changrabandha in Mekhliganj, Chilahati in Haldibari and Sahebganj in Dinhata. After today, rest of the persons will come on 22, 23, 24 and 26 November.

Cooch Behar District Magistrate P Ulganathan said 65 members of 19 families came today. All arrangements have been made for their stay. "It is an important event. I became a witness of history", the DM said. He also said that the first batch came today and others would come soon. The administration made all arrangements for them, he added.

AGRICULTURE FAIR IN COOCH BEHAR

AGRICULTURE FAIR IN COOCHBEHAR

CII sponsored Krishi Unnayan Mela in Cooch Behar

 A three-day Krishi Unnayan Mela (Agriculture Development Fair) started on Wednesday evening. State agriculture minister Purnendu Basu inaugurated the fair at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya (UBKV) campus at Pundibari in Cooch Behar. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) is the organiser of it while West Bengal is the partner state. Mr Sanjiv Paul, chairman of Trade Fairs Task Force, CII Eastern Region and Director of Tata Metalinks Limited delivered the welcome address.

   The agriculture minister said that such fair was initiated last year. He thanked Mr Paul for his co-operation for organising the fair. Mr Basu told Mr Paul that West Bengal wants to gain from the outcome of the work in agriculture sector where Tata group works. "We want to discuss on the issue and we are ready to extend all co-operation to you", he said.

The minister admitted that the state is still in trail behind in soil testing field. In organic farming sector too, the state is still in a backward position. He said that the state government took initiative to produce onion in winter and monsoon months but the production is going out to Bangladesh by other way. During his speech he admitted that though the state is in first position in production of rice but it is staying far behind in productivity in rice bran oil, vermin compost fertiliser, organic fertiliser etc.

    Mr Sanjiv Paul mentioned that food processing industry is sunrise industry. The farmers raised productivity considerably in the past years. He observed that food production may be doubled in next 20 years. Food production rose considerably in this state and 72 percent development achieved in agriculture sector. Mr Paul termed the fair as an ideal one for agricultural community. It may be fruitful to all concerned, he hoped.

    Director of agriculture Paritosh Bhattacharya, UBKV vice-chancellor Debashis Majumder, Chairman of forest development corporation Rabindra Nath Ghosh, district magistrate P Ulganathan, CII's North Bengal chairman Naresh Agarwal, Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Pushpita Roy Dakua were also spoke on the occasion.

    During the three-day fair exhibition, seminars and training on agriculture (Krishi PathShala) will be held.

COOCH BEHAR AIRPORT

Reactions over Mamata's Airport promise

Sharp reactions came from different political corners over the Chief Minister's promise over revival of Cooch Behar Airport.

The Chief Minister, during her address at a mass gathering at Gumanihat of Mathabhanga sub-division in Cooch Behar district held on Monday, said that she will come to Cooch Behar again boarding a small aeroplane. Till launching of the small aircraft service from Cooch Behar Airport she will not come to Cooch Behar. She said, "We already gave the Centre Rs15 crore out of Rs 30 crore for development of the Airport. We requested them to complete the work very quickly. Landing of airplane is not easy in absence of a wider runway here. Till building up a wide runway small aircrafts will ply from here. We are trying to launch that service. Till launching of that service I will not come to Cooch Behar again. I will come only boarding that small aircraft after launching of the service permanently." Her commitment was welcomed by the gathering amid cheers.

Reacting over the CM's speech, a senior BJP leader in Cooch Behar, Pranab Paul, commented that many times planes came here and those services were closed. "The CM may come and go by aeroplane but we are not sure over its continuation. People of Cooch Behar are not ready to believe in such promises anymore", he said.

Cooch Behar district Congress President, Shyamal Chaudhury opined that the CM is saying many things prior to the election. Air services were revived and closed many times. "We know that the CM's many promises turn to untrue and so we should not comment over her promise on revival of air service from Cooch Behar Airport.

Cooch Behar district CPI-M secretary and ex-MP, Tarini Roy said, “According to the CM’s comment we may be assured that air service will not be revived and she will not come to Cooch Behar again. We have no objection of her daily visit to Cooch Behar, after the re-launching of air service”, Roy said.  

Reacting sharply over Mamata's speech, a senior Forward Bloc leader and MLA, Akshay Thakur, questioned "how many promises of the CM turned true till now". "We heard such promises on several occasions. It may be that it would not be necessary for her to visit Cooch Behar after 2016 elections", he added.

On the otherhand, on behalf of business community, general secretary of Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of Commerce,  Rajendra Kumar Baid, said that they believe that air service between Cooch Behar and Kolkata will be re-launched very soon following the Chief Minister's commitment. 

Enclave exchange effected from midnight

Cooch Behar, 31 July/ 1 August (PTI) : The much awaited exchange of enclaves (Chhitmahals) of India and Bangladesh came into effect from this midnight. Though, no official ceremony was held but an organisation named Bharat Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Co-ordination Committee (BBEECC) organised a ceremony at Madhya Masaldanga enclave adjacent to Dinhata sub-division of Cooch Behar at night.

At 12-01 AM the enthusiastic dwellers hoisted Indian National Flag. Flying of colourful balloons and sound of fireworks marked the moment. From that moment the existence of Chhitmahals turned vanished as 111 Indian enclaves and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves have been exchanged between the two neighbouring countries. The enclaves are now part of mainland of the concerned countries.

To mark the occasion of exchange, the BBEECC organised a festive ceremony at Madhya Masaldanga enclave, which was an enclave of Bangladesh encircled by Indian Territory a few moments ago. The dwellers are observing almost Independence Day because from now on they are legal citizens of a country they want to live in.

Sub-divisional Officer of Dinhata Mr Krisnabha Ghosh, ex-SDO of Dinhata Mr Augastin Lepcha, Natabari MLA Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh (President of Cooch Behar District Trinamul Congress) and Dinhata MLA Mr Udayan Guha (Secretary of Cooch Behar District Forward Bloc) were among the guests who delivered speeches on the occasion. Eminent writer Mr Amar Dey, advocate of Bangladesh Supreme Court Mr Abraham Lincoln and Mojaffar Hossain (brother of BD ex-President Abu Ershad) were also present.

The stage and approach roads were beatified with colorful flags, balloons and flowers. All are found in a festive mood.  Cultural function was staged and a documentary film was also shown. A number of enclave-residents spoke on the occasion. They described the painful days and bitter experiences of their life as enclave dwellers. Tears rolled down the cheeks of a few elder residents.

During his speech Mr Rabindra Nath Ghosh claimed that the exchange of Chhitmahals was possible due to positive role of the Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee only. Mr Udayan Guha however said that he don't want to make any controversial comment at this historic moment.

The observance began at about 8 PM on Friday night and it will go on till Saturday. 

Much awaited Enclave exchange at midnight

 

Cooch Behar, 31 July : Official exchange of Chhitmahals (Enclaves) of India and Bangladesh will be done at mid-night today. By this, the enclave-dwellers will get all amenities as genuine citizens. Official sources said that 111 enclaves of India encircled by Bangladeshi mainland and 51 enclaves of Bangladesh encircled by Indian Territory will be exchanged between the two neighbouring countries at midnight today.

As the country is observing mourning following sudden demise of ex-President APJ Abdul Kalam, there will be no official programme to mark the exchange of Chhitmahals. On the otherhand, an organisation named Bharat Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Co-ordination Committee is going to observe the historic event by festive ceremony at Masaldanga enclave (till now a Bangladeshi enclave), according to a spokesman of the organisation.

It may be mentioned here that the dwellers of Chhitmahals of both countries have been suffering form statelessness and all other facilities offered to the genuine citizens of a country since Independence. A number of agreements and treaties were inked between the two countries but the much awaited exchange of enclaves have not done till now. At last, the dwellers of the enclaves are going to get their citizenships. 51,000 residents of the enclaves have made their mindset to choose the country they want to live in. They are now observing the Independence once again.

Chief Minister in Cooch Behar

COOCH BEHAR, 4 December : The dwellers of 162 Chhitmahals (enclaves) of India and Bangladesh welcomed the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nayarhat in Cooch Behar today. She addressed a huge gathering at Dakuarhat under Nayarhat Gram Panchayat in Dinhata Sub-division this afternoon today. The place is near India Bangladesh border and there are a few Chhitmahals nearby. This is the first time a CM addressed a gathering in such a place.

On behalf of the enclave dwellers the Bharat Bangladesh Enclave Exchange Coordination Committee (BBEECC) handed over a bouquet of 162 red-rose to the CM for her positive initiative toward enclave exchange between India and Bangladesh. Mentionworthy, there are 162 enclaves, 111 are of India and 51 are of Bangladesh. (An enclave of a country is a portion of land surrounded by land of other country.)

The CM expressed her desire of resolution of enclave problem and said the relation of two Bengals was sweet. It is still sweet and will be so. West Bengal Government already agreed to the proposal of enclave exchange and that was communicated to the Centre. The CM also spoke of the need of rehabilitation package for the enclave residents and their justified rights.

During her speech the CM highlighted the need of communal harmony. In this context she mentioned the names of Iqbal, Rabindranath and Nazrul. She also talked about Panchanan Barma and said that he was not merely a leader of the Rajbonshis, he was a leader of all people. She asked people of all religious beliefs to live peacefully.

The CM announced foundation of a bunch of new projects like Rs 20-crore Mother and Child Hub at MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar, bird sanctuary at Rasik-bil mini-zoo complex in Tufanganj, Haldibari Stadium, 500-seat auditorium in Cooch Behar etc. She also announced inauguration of a number of projects and services from the meeting dais. She asked her party workers to work for the people sincerely. Bengal will be the pathfinder of the India, Mamata hoped.  

TAX FREE ZONE

Tax Free Zone demand for North Bengal

The demand to declare North Bengal as a tax free zone rose again. Today, the Tax Free Zone Demand Committee for North Bengal sent a memorandum to the Union Finance Minister, P Chidambaram requesting him to consider the longstanding demand.

The general secretary of the Tax Free Zone Demand Committee for North Bengal, Rajendra Kumar Baid said that they were struggling for a long to establish North Bengal as a tax free zone. It is necessary to boost up the industry sector of the region and also to combat the unemployment problem. A large number of local unemployed youths go to outer provinces as they fail to get jobs here. If ne industrial units come up here the situation may change for a good, he opined.

Arguing in favour of their demand, the TFZDC-NB general secretary said that Sikkim and the Northeastern states enjoy the facility but the corridor of these two regions, the North Bengal still fighting to get the justified status. In the memorandum they urged the Union Finance Minister to include the matter in the next Union budget for the greater interest of the people of North Bengal.

MP-LAD SCAM

MP-LAD scam : accused remanded in jail custody

Pradip Chakraborty, the main accused in the MP-LAD scam in Cooch Behar
was produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Sandip Kumar
Manna today and was remanded in judicial custody till 27 February. The
court received no prayer for his release under bail today. He will be
produced again in the court on 27 February.

It may be mentioned here that the District magistrate of Cooch Behar,
Mohan Gandhi filed an FIR against Chakraborty who is an employee of
his office. After lodging of the FIR on 11 January, Chakraborty
absconded. He was arrested from a house at Jamaldaha in Mekhliganj
sub-division on 29 January. On the next day he was produced to the
court of the CJM in Cooch behar and was remanded in police custody for
14 days.

Cooch Behar MP (Lok Sabha), Nripendra Nath Roy brought an allegation
to the DM against misappropriation of his Local Area Development fund
(MP-LAD fund). Considering the seriousness of the allegation, the DM
lodged an FIR against the employee who deals the matter for years,
Soon after it, Chakraborty absconded. Meanwhile, another MP (Rajya
Sabha), Tarinai Roy too came out with allegation of misappropriation
of his MP-LAD fund. The DM ordered a departmental inquiry into the
matter. The CID also took over the case from the Cooch Behar District
Police and started a thorough probe into the scam.

Manas Bhuina at Circuit House in Cooch Behar on Sunday.