India/Bangladesh end enclaves

The countries of India and Bangladesh have swapped control of enclaves — 111 Indian enclaves in Bangladesh and 51 Bangladeshi enclaves in India — ending almost 70 years of confusion and frustration for the 50,000 citizens living within them.

Originally mapped out in the 18th century by local lords, who used villages as wagers in chess games, the enclaves remained after the creation of Bangladesh in 1947 (when it was known as East Pakistan). Since then, Indian and Bangladeshi nationals living within the enclaves were unable to take advantage of most local services, including medical care and education, because of their nationalities.

Plans to exchange enclaves have been in place since 1974 but were not ratified by India until June 2015.