Agartala, April 28: The Youth Tipra Federation (YTF), the youth wing of the ruling BJP alliance partner Tipra Motha party, staged a major protest on Monday at Bankar Market near the Bangladesh border in South Tripura’s Belonia subdivision, raising concerns over a high-rise embankment constructed by Bangladesh next to the Muhari river, close to the zero line.
Carrying the Indian tricolour and party flags, the protesters attempted to march toward the embankment site but were halted by a heavy contingent of security forces, including Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, citing the risk of escalating tensions along the sensitive border region amid the local villagers who had already expressed fears that the embankment could cause serious flooding on the Indian side during the monsoon.
During the protest, YTF members raised anti-Bangladesh slogans and trampled posters of Mohammad Yunus, the chief advisor of Bangladesh’s interim government, who recently made controversial comments in China, describing Northeast India as “landlocked” and portraying Bangladesh as its “gateway to the sea” as he urged for Chinese investment.
Following negotiations between security officials and YTF leaders, including state president Suraj Debbarma and TTAADC South Zone chairman David Murasingh, a delegation was permitted to visit the border area to inspect the embankment and hold a symbolic protest.
Speaking to the media later, YTF president Suraj Debbarma accused the Bangladeshi government of violating international border norms by constructing the embankment so close to Indian territory. “As indigenous citizens of India, it is our right and duty to protect our land and borders,” Debbarma asserted.
He questioned why the Government of India had not yet taken strong action against Bangladesh’s activities and warned that Tipra Motha’s “warriors of Maharaja” (referring to the party founder Pradyot Kishore Debbarma) would not tolerate any encroachment.
Debbarma further threatened that if Bangladesh attempts to seize even an inch of India’s land, Tipra Motha would intensify their demand for a “Greater Tipraland,” reclaiming areas like the Chittagong Hill Tracts and Cox’s Bazar, which were historically part of the erstwhile princely state of Tripura before Partition.
Meanwhile, local villagers in Belonia echoed concerns about the new embankment and urged Indian authorities to expedite the construction of a protective embankment on their side to prevent potential flooding during the upcoming rainy season.
