Agartala: Dec 11: A long march was organized today by members of the youth, volunteer, and student wings of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in protest against the recent attack on and arrest of Hindu minority members and monk Chinmoy Krishna Das in Bangladesh. The march, comprising approximately 2,000 vehicles, began at 10 AM (Indian Standard Time) from Nayapaltan in Dhaka, heading toward Akhaura.
The atmosphere in Akhaura, on the Bangladesh side, has been tense, as BNP and affiliated organizations directed local shopkeepers to close their shops and join the march. However, many shopkeepers did not follow this directive, and international trade continued normally. Agartala-based importer-exporter Bimol Roy reported that trade remained steady, with goods such as fish, plastic, and dried fish being imported from Bangladesh, although slightly fewer goods were imported today compared to the previous day.
As the march is expected to reach Akhaura between 2 PM and 4 PM, security measures have been intensified at the Akhaura Integrated Checkpoint in Agartala. The BSF, police, and TSR personnel have been deployed to ensure safety, and barricades have been set up along the road leading from Akhaura to Agartala. West District Superintendent of Police, Kiran Kumar, inspected the security arrangements and confirmed that the authorities are prepared to handle the situation.
Despite the heightened security, residents of the area near the Akhaura border eagerly await the long march, planning to greet the participants with packets of sweets. They expressed their warmth and hospitality, acknowledging India’s reputation for delicious sweets and offering them to the marchers as a gesture of goodwill.
