Dhaka: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee took credit for the historic exchange of enclaves between Bangladesh and India while stressing on strengthening relations between the two countries, reported The Statesman.

Banerjee on Thursday claimed that her government finally executed the enclave exchange programme that had been pending for long.

‘Many other previous governments talked much about the enclaves and the Land Boundary Agreement, but finally, it was the ‘Maa Maati Manush government that actually executed the plan,’ she said as she laid the foundation stone for a bridge over the Teesta river here that would link Haldibari with Mekhliganj.

‘It is now time to develop infrastructure here. We are proud of the historic development,’ she said about the enclave exchange that finally happened at midnight on 31 July.

‘Many people here had not been able to enjoy freedom even after India’s independence. These people were stateless, and it is after a long 68 years that people here are getting a chance to exercise their rights and enjoy their freedom. It is a victory for them,’ the CM went on to explain.

On the rehabilitation for the people who have decided to settle down in India after the enclave exchange, and on building infrastructure for those people, she said the district magistrate would look into the issues.