Tripura Hospitality Sector Halts Services for Bangladeshi Guests

Agartala/Silchar, Dec 3 (NationPress) In a significant move, an apex organization representing hotel and restaurant owners in Tripura has resolved to withhold accommodation and services from Bangladeshi nationals in response to the persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh. This decision follows a similar stance taken by a prominent private healthcare institution in Agartala.

During a meeting convened on Monday night, the leaders of the All Tripura Hotel and Restaurant Owners’ Association (ATHROA) deliberated on the situation unfolding in Bangladesh and reached a consensus to deny services to its nationals.

“We cannot remain indifferent to the atrocities inflicted upon Hindus and the destruction of their properties in Bangladesh. After thorough discussions regarding the current situation, we have unanimously decided to stop providing any accommodation or services to Bangladeshi visitors,” stated ATHROA General Secretary Saikat Bandyopadhyay in a media briefing on Tuesday.

In a related incident last week, one of Agartala's largest private hospitals declared it would discontinue services for Bangladeshi patients following protests from local activists concerning reported atrocities against religious minorities in Bangladesh and an incident involving disrespect to the Indian national flag.

Addressing the protests, the Chief Operating Officer of the private hospital announced the termination of the Bangladesh desk. “As an Indian, I honor and stand by the sentiments expressed by the protesters. Given the ongoing turmoil in Bangladesh, we have chosen to suspend services for Bangladeshi patients,” he remarked, noting a decline in the number of Bangladeshi patients since the unrest began.

This decision by the Agartala hospital mirrors that of a private facility in North Kolkata, which recently declared it would no longer provide medical treatment to Bangladeshi patients over the same issues.

The protests have arisen amid growing alarm regarding the persecution of Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh, alongside reports of disrespect toward India’s national symbols, which have prompted strong reactions from India.

In the meantime, in Sribhumi district (formerly Karimganj District) of southern Assam, approximately 500 traders have declared they will halt trade (both import and export) with Bangladesh due to escalating violence against minorities and disrespect for the Tricolor in the neighboring country.

On Monday, the traders gathered at a river port near Sribhumi town, where some of them burned Bangladeshi goods that had been shipped earlier.

Amaresh Roy from the Karimganj District Export-Import Coordination Committee articulated their stance, stating, “We oppose violence against religious minorities in Bangladesh, including Christians and Hindus. They consistently denigrate India without justification; most recently, we witnessed an insult to our national flag, which is unacceptable. Our nation comes first, and we refuse to engage in business with a country that exhibits such behavior.”

According to Roy, the Sribhumi district hosts numerous trade unions, and the coordination committee acts as a collective platform for them. “We have collectively made this decision, and trade will be suspended until normalcy is restored in Bangladesh,” he affirmed.