Security beefed up at Bangladesh diplomatic mission in Agartala

Security was enhanced near the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, the capital city of north eastern Indian state of Tripura, today (19 December) in the wake of the protest staged by the youth front of a regional outfit of tribals.

Tipra Motha Party's youth wing Youth Tripra Federation (YTF) staged a demonstration near the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission to protest against "anti-India campaign" and remarks made by a political party leader of the neighbouring country about Northeast India.

West Tripura Superintendent of Police Namit Pathak said Tripura State Rifles (TSR) and CRPF personnel have been deployed to provide security to Bangladesh Assistant High Commission.

"Adequate security arrangements have been made to handle the situation," he said.

Today's protest revived memories of last year when hundreds of agitators had barged into this Assistant High Commission following attacks on minorities in Bangladesh and the Indian government later regretted the majority security breach.

"We want to remind anti-India forces in Bangladesh that it was India that liberated Bangladesh from the oppression of the Pakistan Army... It took only 13 days to turn East Pakistan into a sovereign country," YTF President Suraj Debbarma told reporters in Agartala today.

The agitators also raised slogans against the interim government in Bangladesh.

Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, in an X post, said, "the only political party in Northeast to publicly protest outside the Bangladesh [Assistant] High Commission after statements were made against our Northeast."

During a rally in protest against the attack on prominent July Uprising leader Sharif Osman Hadi who later succumbed to gunshot wounds, National Citizen Party leader Hasnat Abdullah on 15 December warned that India's northeastern "Seven Sisters" states would be isolated if Bangladesh is destabilised.

Hasnat alleged that those creating chaos in the country, attempting to sabotage the election process, and involved in the attack on Hadi are being backed by India.

He also accused Indian authorities of involvement in border killings of Bangladeshi nationals.

"I want to say clearly to India that if you shelter forces who do not respect Bangladesh's sovereignty, potential, voting rights and human rights, Bangladesh will respond," he said, adding that destabilising Bangladesh would have wider regional consequences.

"If Bangladesh is destabilised, the fire of resistance will spread beyond borders," he warned.

Criticising India's role, Hasnat said, "Even after 54 years of independence, Bangladesh is still facing attempts by 'vultures' to exert control over the country."

He alleged that India was seeking to weaken Bangladesh and turn it into a conflict-ridden state.