India and Bangladesh settled a long-standing border dispute in 2015 by swapping control of 160 enclaves along their shared border. This agreement provided a solution for thousands of people who had been living in these enclaves for decades without a clear nationality.
The enclaves, small pockets of land owned by one country but entirely surrounded by the other, had created confusion and challenges for both nations. The origins of these enclaves go back to agreements made by local rulers centuries ago, and over time, the residents faced a lack of basic services like schools, clinics, and utilities. About 50,000 people had lived in this stateless limbo, unable to enjoy their full rights as citizens.
After years of negotiations, the issue was finally resolved in 2015. The Land Boundary Agreement was made official when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exchanged documents in Dhaka, bringing the deal to life. Bangladesh had initially endorsed the agreement back in 1974, but it wasn’t until 2015 that India’s parliament gave its approval, setting the stage for the agreement’s ratification.
According to the terms of the deal, India and Bangladesh agreed to swap territories: 111 enclaves were transferred to Bangladesh, while India gained control of 51. The most significant part of the agreement was that the residents of these enclaves were given the choice to decide which country they wanted to live in and which nationality they wished to hold.
Most of the people living in Indian enclaves in Bangladesh chose to stay, with only about 1,000 opting to retain their Indian citizenship. Meanwhile, all Bangladeshis living in the 51 Indian enclaves decided to switch their nationality and become Indian citizens.
This swap marked the end of decades of uncertainty and hardship for those who had been living in these isolated areas without proper governance or basic services. The agreement strengthened ties between the two nations, resolving a complex issue that had lingered for years. While both countries continue to face challenges with other neighbors, the India-Bangladesh border agreement brought closure to one of the region’s most complicated problems.
The agreement, finalized in 2015, was a significant step forward for peace, stability, and the lives of the people involved. The residents of the border enclaves finally gained the citizenship and rights they had long been denied, and the border issue between the two countries was put to rest.
