Stateless misery on India-Bangladesh border

Enclave residents complain that they are in limbo - not desired by India or BangladeshT

Years ago hirteen Saifur Rahman had a severe eye injury and was taken to a hospital in northern Bangladesh.

But doctors refused to treat him, saying he was a foreigner.

It came as a blow to the farmer of 35 years old, from the village of Kalirhat in Kurigram district, bordering India.

For people like Mr. Rahman, Bangladesh has been home. Born and raised in Bangladesh, although officially he and his fellow villagers are Indian cit
zens.
"I lost my sight, because I have not had treatment in time. Could not go across the border with India and had no valid documents to prove my identity," says Mr. Rahman, who is one of the 7,000 people living in the Indian enclave Dosiarchaura, a few kilometers from the border with Bangladesh on the inside.

Officially, this area is part of Cooch Behar district in the Indian state of West Bengal.