Congress Stages Protest in Tripura Against Bangladesh Embankment
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Synopsis
On January 25, the opposition Congress in Tripura organized a rally to urge the Union government to intervene against the construction of a Bangladesh embankment near the India-Bangladesh border, citing potential threats to local towns and villages during the monsoon season.
Key Takeaways
- Protest by Congress against the Bangladesh embankment.
- Concerns raised over potential flooding in Kailashahar.
- Call for Union government intervention.
- Violation of Indira-Mujib pact alleged.
- Efforts to raise awareness among state and central authorities.
Agartala, Jan 25 (NationPress) In a bid to seek intervention from the Union government, the opposition Congress held a demonstration on Saturday along the India-Bangladesh border in northern Tripura’s Unakoti district to protest against the embankment construction by Bangladesh along the boundary.
According to senior Congress leader and former Minister Birajit Sinha, who has been leading the opposition against the contentious embankment, the Bangladesh government is unilaterally building an embankment on its territory, which poses a risk to the district town of Kailashahar and nearby border villages during the monsoon floods.
Sinha, previously the state Congress President, noted that portions of the large embankment come close to the ‘zero line’, breaching the established guidelines of both nations.
He expressed intentions to speak with Chief Minister Manik Saha about addressing the issue with the Centre, alleging that the Bangladesh government is also in breach of the Indira-Mujib pact.
Hundreds of Congress leaders and supporters rallied, chanting slogans against the Bangladesh government and calling on the Indian government to engage with the neighboring country promptly.
In an interaction with the media, Sinha stated: “Given the peril to Tripura’s key district town and bordering villages, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the relevant Indian minister must address the situation with the Bangladesh government to halt the embankment construction.”
Moreover, Sinha mentioned that Bangladeshi smugglers recently assaulted BSF personnel while they were patrolling the border areas in Unakoti district.
In the meantime, the Chief Minister of Tripura met Union Home Minister Amit Shah last week in Delhi and submitted a letter concerning the embankment issue.
“In his correspondence with the Home Minister, the Chief Minister emphasized the potential impact of the Bangladeshi embankment in Unakoti district and the risk of flooding on the Indian side. He urged the Home Minister to take necessary measures with the Bangladesh government,” an official reported.
Dilip Kumar Chakma, the District Magistrate, along with a team of engineers from the Water Resources Department of the Tripura government, visited the border areas of Unakoti district last week to examine the contentious embankment being constructed by Bangladesh in the Sharipur and Devipur areas of their Moulvibazar district.
The embankment under construction measures 20 feet in height and 10 feet in width, being erected along the Manu River, which delineates the two nations.
According to the Indira-Mujib pact signed on March 19, 1972, and the 1975 Joint guidelines for border authorities between India and Bangladesh, no structure can be built within 150 yards from the zero line of the international boundary unilaterally by either side,” the official mentioned.
On the Indian side, an embankment was built many years ago, over 350 yards from the zero line, but its height is insufficient.
“The height of the embankment on our side needs significant elevation; otherwise, Kailashahar and numerous border villages will face flooding during the monsoon season,” the official emphasized.
Congress leader Sinha, who is also an MLA, raised the embankment issue in the recent winter session of the Tripura Assembly and called on the state government to escalate the matter to the Centre.
