The first-ever joint census exercise by India and Bangladesh since Independence in 162 enclaves spread over six districts – two in India and four in Bangladesh – located along the international border came to an end on Monday with the census officials on the Indian side describing it as a “unique and successful experience.”
Enclaves are tracts of land or territories enclosed within another territory of which they are independent. India has 111 such enclaves while Bangladesh has 51.“Unlike in the general census, only seven questions agreed upon by the governments of both the countries were part of the questionnaire. ,” Mr. Chakraborty said. The exercise was conducted by the Joint Boundary Working Group – comprising officials from both India and Bangladesh.