Tripura’s Border Haats Remain Shut Amid Bangladesh Unrest, Future Still Uncertain
The future of Tripura’s cross-border trade through ‘Border Haats’ remains shrouded in uncertainty, as political instability and unrest continue to grip neighbouring Bangladesh. Despite earlier optimism and mutual interest from both governments, the two functional Border Haats in Tripura have remained shut for months, dealing a blow to local livelihoods and small-scale trade networks in the border regions.
The Border Haats — localised border markets established to promote trade and people-to-people ties between India and Bangladesh — were envisioned as instruments of grassroots economic diplomacy. However, they have been effectively non-functional since the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020, which led to blanket lockdowns and travel restrictions across the region. Although some markets temporarily reopened in 2022, they were again closed in mid-2023 following the surge of political violence in Bangladesh, culminating in the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in August 2024.
A senior official from the Tripura Industries and Commerce Department told this newspaper:
“There were serious efforts made between district officials of both countries to reopen the haats last year. Meetings were held regularly, particularly for the haats in South Tripura and Sepahijala districts. But the sudden unrest and change in Bangladesh’s political landscape halted all progress.”
Tripura shares an 856-km-long border with Bangladesh, the second longest after West Bengal. The state currently has two officially sanctioned Border Haats, one each in South Tripura (Srinagar-Chhagalnaiya) and Sepahijala (Kamlasagar-Kasba). Both had shown early promise in reviving traditional trade routes, empowering women entrepreneurs, and easing tensions along the border by fostering direct community interaction.
Before closures, each weekly market would witness 25 to 30 vendors from both sides, trading in essential commodities, handicrafts, spices, textiles, and agricultural products. Many of the vendors were women, whose incomes were directly tied to these markets.
“It wasn’t just about trade. These markets gave local people a reason to stay connected, to trust each other. Their closure is not only an economic loss but also a social setback,” said a local vendor from Kamalasagar, who had been a regular at the haats before 2020.
The first Border Haat between India and Bangladesh was inaugurated in 2011 at Kalaichar in Meghalaya, and inspired the setup of more such haats in Meghalaya and Tripura. Before the political upheaval in Dhaka, both New Delhi and Dhaka had approved 10 more haats, including four in Tripura and six in Meghalaya, under bilateral agreements designed to boost rural border economies. Their implementation has now stalled indefinitely.
Beyond Tripura, three Border Haats in Meghalaya — including in East Khasi Hills and South West Garo Hills — briefly reopened in 2022 but also shut down again due to the escalating crisis in Bangladesh’s border districts.
The prolonged suspension of these markets has sparked concerns in Tripura about the broader implications for cross-border cooperation and regional development. With insurgent activities, drug trafficking, and smuggling still posing challenges along the porous border, the reactivation of these haats is also seen as a soft power tool to foster stability and engagement at the grassroots level.
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As the geopolitical situation in Bangladesh remains fragile, Tripura’s industries and commerce officials say they are now in a “wait and watch” mode, depending on signals from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Government of Bangladesh.
Until then, the once-bustling border markets that brought life, trade, and hope to remote border villages in Tripura will remain silent — a casualty of politics beyond their control.
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