As part of the process to relocate former enclave dwellers, 288 people of three enclaves-- two in Kurigram and another in Panchagarh districts-- went to India yesterday. 

In the second batch, 157 people of 29 families from now-defunct enclave Dashiarsara of Phulbari upazila in Kurigram got together on the playground of Sheikh Fajilatunnesa Dakhil Madrasa and started their journey with goods by five mini-buses and 24 pick-up vans to Bhagvandar-Sahebganj border check post in Bhurungamari upazila of the district around 10:00am.

On the way, an enclave dweller of now-defunct enclave Soto-Garoljhar in Bhurungamari upazila joined the journey, reports our correspondent. 

After completing immigration at the check post, they entered India around 1:00pm. The India-bound people were bidden goodbye with sweets, flowers and gifts before crossing the border. 

Rafiqul Islam Selim, additional deputy commissioner (revenue), Lt Col Jakir Hossain, commanding officer of BGB-45, Md Shahab Uddin, additional superintendent of police, Nasir Uddin Mahmud, Phulbari upazila nirbahi officer, and Abu Hayat, Bhurungamari UNO,  among others, were present there. 

The district administration sources said a total of 230 people of 45 families of three former Indian enclaves went to India in the two terms while 305 enclave people were interested to take Indian citizenship during the India-Bangladesh joint survey team on July 6 to July 16 this year. 

The 305 people were issued India travel passes for going to India. But of them, 70 people of two former enclaves in Kurigram have appealed for living in Bangladesh to the Indian high commissioner through the deputy commissioner, the sources said.

In Panchagarh, 130 people of 30 families from Dahala Khagrabari enclave in Debiganj upazila of the district left for India through Chilahati-Haldibari route the same day, reports our Thakurgaon correspondent.  

After completion of all formalities, Additional Deputy Magistrate Golam Azam formally handed over the 130 people to First Secretary of Indian High Commission of Bangladesh Rama Kanta Gupta at checking and loading point at Debiganj Degree College ground around 9:00am. UNO Shafiqul Islam was present there.    

Sub-Divisional Officer of Mekliganj sub-division in Cooch Behar district, West Bengal Ranjan Kumar Jha and other officials received the people at the entry point of the border in the afternoon. 

A touching scene emerged at the ground of the college when the vehicles carrying the people started for India.