DHAKA: With the exchange of enclaves in the pipeline between India and Bangladesh, both nations have put a bar on sale and purchase of land in the enclaves to prevent any illegal transaction in the interim period till August 1 when the formal handover will take place.

Authorities fear that a land racket at work will take advantage of the situation if the necessary checks and balances are not put in place, reports deccanherald.com

The restriction on land transactions was clearly stated in a notification issued by the Indian government on June 22, which specifically pointed out the ban will remain till the midnight of July 31. 

Officials informed that the decision was taken at a meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Boundary Working Group in Kolkata on June 16.

While the ban will be lifted from August 1, transactions will remain restricted till November 30, which is the last day of enclave residents to migrate from one nation to the other.

“No one will be allowed to sell or purchase any land in enclaves till November 30. The decision was made to prevent outsiders or any quarters from creating any troubles over the ownership of lands during the interim period,” an official said.

While officials from both countries will jointly collect data on enclave residents on either side of the border, they will also look into land records.

“The joint teams will prepare records of rights relating to lands for smooth transfer of the territories and settlement of land ownership. The people in the landlocked areas usually buy or sell land among themselves without any registration as they virtually have no access to their respective mainland. Once they have migrated, they will be allowed to sell lands and remit money to their chosen homeland with the consent of district magistrates,” the official said.

BDST: 1350 HRS, JULY 05, 2015
RS/SMS