Agartala, December 19:
Hundreds of indigenous youths and students on Friday staged a protest demonstration in front of the office of Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Agartala, condemning what they described as threatening and derogatory remarks made by Bangladeshi leader Hasnat Abdullah.
Abdullah, a leader of the newly formed National Citizens Party (NCP) of Bangladesh and former convener of the Students Against Discrimination movement that led the 2024 Student–People’s uprising, had reportedly warned that if India attempted to destabilise Bangladesh, Dhaka could retaliate by supporting efforts to isolate India’s northeastern “seven sister” states.
The protest was organised by the Youth TIPRA Federation (YTF), one of Tripura’s largest tribal youth organisations.
Speaking to reporters, YTF president Suraj Debbarma said the younger generation in Bangladesh appeared to have forgotten that their country was formed with India’s support and the sacrifices of the Indian Army during the 1971 Liberation War.
Debbarma alleged that provocative statements from Bangladesh, including earlier remarks by a former army officer about separating the Northeast from India by exploiting the narrow “Chicken’s Neck” corridor, were a matter of serious concern.
He said the protest was meant to send a strong message that the people of the Northeast would not tolerate such threats.
Earlier this year, the YTF leader had led a massive protest right on the India–Bangladesh border in Belonia subdivision of South Tripura against an embankment allegedly being constructed illegally by Bangladesh along the border.
Debbarma urged the Indian government to ensure effective protection of the over 4,000-km-long border with Bangladesh, and claimed that the Tiprasa people were capable and ready to safeguard their land and interests if needed.
He also expressed apprehension of possible violence in Bangladesh ahead of the elections scheduled for February next year, making allegations about the interim government there led by Mohammed Yunus who according to him is gurdianless and has become a puppet in the hands of China and US.
The protesters also raised slogans against Muhammad Yunus, but were restrained by a heavy deployment of security personnel from approaching the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission office.
Warning that the indigenous people would not remain silent spectators, the protesters said they were demonstrating peacefully but would strongly oppose any continued atrocities against minorities, particularly indigenous communities, in Bangladesh.
The demonstration concluded with slogans of “India long live”, “North East long live” and “Tripura long live.”
