Bengal’s border areas celebrate belated Independence Day

Kolkata, Aug 18 (IANS) Like every year, parts of West Bengal bordering Bangladesh, celebrated the Independence Day on Friday, two days after the rest of the country to mark the day when they became part of India.

Nadia district's Ranaghat subdivision and district headquarters Krishnanagar participated in the belated Independence Day celebrations along with North 24 Parganas district's Bongaon, officials said.

In Bongaon, the event was organised by the lawyer's forum on Friday afternoon at the sub-divisional court complex.

"There is no government affiliation to the belated Independence Day celebrations. The lawyer's council and the local people organise this event every year," Bongaon Sub Divisional Officer Sudip Mukherjee told IANS.

"Many bordering areas in Bengal were disputed during independence. Bongaon was a part of erstwhile East Pakistan for two days after India's independence before being declared as a part of the country on the night of August 17,1947. Since then the independence day is celebrated in certain areas of Bongaon on August 18," he added.

Like Bongaon, two major towns of Nadia district- Ranaghat and Krishnanagar - also celebrated the belated Independence Day by hoisting the tricolour on Friday. The officials said the ceremonies were private initiatives by the locals.

"One major event is organised every year in Ranaghat town on August 18 along with other small events in nearby villages.Due to some dispute large part of Nadia was initially made a part of East Pakistan but was later included in Indian mainland," Ranaghat Sub Divisional Officer Prasenjit Chakraborty told IANS.

The belated Independence day was also celebrated in Nadia district's Sibnibas village on Friday.