SILCHAR, Nov 25 - The issue of repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals, who have been declared as �foreigners� by the Tribunal courts and sent to the detention camp in Cachar district and have completed their term as sentenced by the Tribunal, would be discussed with priority during the joint coordination meeting of the Deputy Commissioners of Cachar and Karimganj of India and Sylhet and Moulabi Bazar of Bangladesh, said Cachar Deputy Commissioner S Vishwanathan.
In an exclusive interview to The Assam Tribune, ahead of the meeting to be held at Moulabi Bazar from November 28, Vishwanathan said the issue of repatriation of the Bangladeshi citizens, who were declared �foreigners� by the Tribunal courts here, is one of the major issues to be extensively discussed and cooperation will be sought from the administration of both the districts in this regard.
�Through discussions we shall seek help of the Bangladeshi administration to identify the nationals as their own so that they can be sent back easily,� Vishwanathan said. According to sources, there are presently around 35 Bangladeshi nationals at the detention camp.
Issues pertaining to smuggling, infiltration, law and order, flood management in the villages along the border, increasing cultural participation through organising festivals and establishment and enhancing trade by opening border haats, will be among other issues to be discussed in the meeting, the DC added. He will be accompanied by the SP of Cachar, two ADCs and BSF officials in the three-day meet.
A similar meeting was held in Cachar in January earlier this year when former Cachar Deputy Commissioner Gokul Mohan Hazarika, Deputy Commissioner of Karimganj Sanjib Gohain Baruah, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Sahidul Islam and Deputy Commissioner of Moulabi Bazar Kamrul Islam together with senior police and border security officials of the four districts discussed the burgeoning border issues and ways to deal with those.
Asked about rehabilitation of families at the villages on the border area in the district, Vishwanathan said that the process has already begun and around half a bigha of land within 2 kms from the border area will be given to each family as a part of the rehabilitation process.
Speaking on the verification process of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Vishwanathan said that already 3.9 lakh family-tree forms have been distributed and 5,500 families from across the district have been verified.
