Teen Bigha Corridor
Type: মহল্লা
Contributed By: Nayeem
Brief
The Tin [or Teen] Bigha Corridor (Bengali: তিনবিঘা করিডর) is a strip of land belonging to India on the West Bengal–Bangladesh border, which in September, 2011, was leased to Bangladesh so that it can access its Dahagram–Angarpota enclaves.
According to the Indira Gandhi-Sheikh Mujibur Rahman treaty of 16 May, 1974, India and Bangladesh were to hand over the sovereignty of the Tin Bigha Corridor (178 x 85 sq m) and South Berubari (7.39 km2) to each other, thereby allowing access to the Dahagram–Angarpota enclaves and the Indian enclaves adjacent to South Berubari. Bangladesh did hand over the sovereignty of the smaller South Berubari to India instantly in 1974. India, however, could not transfer the Tin Bigha Corridor to Bangladesh as it required constitutional amendment which could not be done due to political reasons.
After much Bangladesh government protest, India, instead of handing over sovereignty in 2011, proposed to lease the Tin Bigha Corridor to Bangladesh for a certain time. South Berubari, meanwhile, would remain in the possession of India.
The total area of South Berubari Union No. 12 is 22.58 km2. of which 11.29 km. was to go to Bangladesh. The area of the four Cooch Behar enclaves which would also have to go to Bangladesh was 6.84 km2. making the total area to be transferred 18.13 km2. The population of the area including the four enclaves to be transferred, as per 1967 data, was 90% Hindu. The Bangladesh enclaves, Dahagram and Angorpota, were to be transferred to India. Their total area was 18.68 km2. and as per 1967 data more than 80% of their population was Muslim. If this exchange had gone through, it would have meant a change of nationality for the population or migration of the population from Dahagram and Angorpota and South Berubari Union No. 12 and consequent serious rehabilitation problems. There were in any case major agitations by the people of Berubari protesting against the transfer.
After 1971, India proposed to Bangladesh that India may continue to retain the southern half of South Berubari Union No. 12 and the adjacent enclaves and, in exchange, Dahagram and Angorpota may be retained by Bangladesh. As part of the package a strip of land would be leased in perpetuity by India to Bangladesh, giving her access to Dahagram & Angorpota in order to enable her to exercise sovereignty on these two enclaves. This was accepted by Bangladesh as part of a carefully constructed Land Boundary Agreement signed by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in May 16, 1974. The Berubari dispute was thus finally resolved by Article 1.14 of the Agreement which stated:
“India will retain the southern half of South Berubari Union No. 12 and the adjacent enclaves, measuring an area of 2.64 square miles approximately, and in exchange Bangladesh will retain the Dahagram and Angorpota enclaves. India will lease in perpetuity to Bangladesh an area of 178 meters x 85 meters near ‘Tin Bigha’ to connect Dahagram with Panbari Mouza (P.S. Patgram) of Bangladesh.”
How to go
It is located in the Lalmonirhat district. From Lalmonirhat you can take rickshaw, Local bus and also use boat to visit this area.
How To Reach: লালমনিরহাট জেলা
Dhaka and Lalmonirhat district is linked by road. You can take a bus from Dhaka to reach Lalmonirhat. Some of the bus services have been listed below for your assistance.
1. DR Enterprise
Starting time: 8:30pm
Bus Fare: BDT 450- BDT 500 (Approx.)
2. S R Travels
Gabtoli, Contact: 02-8011226
Kollanpur, contact: 02-8013793, 01711-394801
Abdullahpur, Contact: 0171944023
Uttora, Contact: 01552315318
3. Kurigram Paribahan
Contact: 01924-469 437, 01914-856 826
4. Bablu Enterprise
Shyamoli, Contact: 8120653, 01716 932 122
Lalmonirhat and Dhaka are also linked by railway. There is only one intercity train available to get from Dhaka to Lalmonirhat.
Train name: Lalmoni Express
Train operates every day except Fridays.
Departure time: 22:10
Arrival time: 8:20
Where to Stay
There are some places available to stay in Lalmonirhat. However, their quality is not up to the mark. Accommodation facilities of Lalmonirhat could be improved to meet the tourists’ expectations.
1. RDRS GUEST HOUSE is one of the places you may consider staying in. It is a decent place with homely environment. It offers food and non-alcoholic beverages, modern conference, workshop and meeting facilities. Both AC and non AC rooms are available here. It is a standard choice for your stay. Contact: 01713-200185
You can also stay in-
2. Paradise Hotel and Restaurant
Address: Rail Gate, Puran Bazar Rd,
Lalmonirhat Sadar, 5500
Phone: +880 1744-859191
Things to do
You can go India by using this corridor but there have some formalities.
Eating Facilities
The food management is also very good. You can get different types of food items there. It won’t be a great problem to find a suitable restaurant for you to eat. The foods are also very delicious. You can get foods also from the resident hotel where you are staying.
