New Delhi, Aug 26 (IANS) Bangladesh has not given access to India to conduct the census exercise in Indian enclaves within its territory, parliament was informed Thursday.
‘The people living in the Indian enclaves in Bangladesh are excluded from census as no access to these enclaves has been provided by the government of Bangladesh for census operations,’ External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
There are 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh, and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India.
The two countries had set up a joint boundary working group in 2001, which has held three meetings so far.
‘Both sides are working towards finalizing the date of the next Joint Boundary Group meeting,’ Krishna said.
As per the 1974 Land Boundary agreement, the two countries had agreed that the enclaves should be exchanged.
