Tin Bigha Corridor and Dahagram-Angarpota: History of Partition and Present-Day Struggles in Kuchlibari

Abstract

The enclaves between India and Bangladesh, particularly Cooch Behar and Rangpur, have a complex history rooted in a 1713 treaty between the Mughals and the Maharajas of Cooch Behar, granting Cooch Behar control over lands within Mughal territory. These enclaves persisted despite a failed exchange attempt in 1935 and were further complicated by Sir Radcliffe's border demarcation during the 1947 Partition. The Dahagram-Angarpota enclave, isolated from the Bangladesh mainland, became central to tensions. Under the 1974 Indira-Mujib Agreement, India provided Bangladesh access to Dahagram-Angarpota via the Tin Bigha Corridor, leading to agitation from the residents of Kuchlibari. While the corridor opened fully in 1992, local restrictions continued to hinder the lives of the enclave's residents. Despite the 2015 India-Bangladesh border agreement resolving most enclave issues, Dahagram-Angarpota was excluded, perpetuating unresolved tensions between the two nations. This article explores the historical and present-day challenges of these enclaves.