Sarwar and Marina, both in their 20s, were given a choice

offered to all enclave

-dwellers whether they want to stay at the Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and bec
ome Bangladeshi citizens, or move to India and get Indian citizenship. The choic
e had to be exercised between July 6 and 16.
While the couple agreed to move to India on July 9, the wife changed her mind an
d told officials she wants to stay back. The change of option was communicated to
us before July 16. This is a valid personal choice, which has to be respected, a
South Block official said.
The couple have two sons, and the wife has decided they will stay with her in Ba
ngladesh. The husband now has time till November 30 to move to India. South Bloc
k officials found this unique case while they were taking stock of the headcount
of people who want to move or stay back.
Sources said a total of 979 people in 222 families from Indian enclaves in Bangl
adesh have decided to move to India and acquire Indian citizenship. Of the 222 f
amilies, 146 are Hindus and 76 are Muslims.
Not a single resident of the 111 Bangladeshi enclaves in India has opted to move
to Bangladesh, officials said. With the stroke of the midnight on Friday, 15,13
4 residents of Bangladeshi enclaves, as well as 979 who have chosen to migrate,
will be eligible for becoming Indian citizens. This will mean that 16,113 people
will become Indian citizens on Saturday.
Their Aadhaar cards and ration cards will be processed in the next few months. B
angladesh will have 39,544 new citizens from the 51 Indian enclaves, officials s
aid.
Sources said that the movement of people from Bangladesh to India will take plac
e only after the monsoons, which usually last till September. The local authoriti
es have said that the best time will be after Durga Puja celebrations late Octob
er onwards, an official said.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/as-bangladesh
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