Tripura CM Writes to Amit Shah on Bangladesh's Embankment along Border
Agartala, Jan 18, 2025, By Our Correspondent112
Chief Minister of Tripura, Professor (Dr.) Manik Saha, has written a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah, detailing the construction of an illegal embankment along the Manu River in Sharifpur, Sylhet Division of Bangladesh, near the border of Kailashahar. The embankment, being built unilaterally by the Bangladesh government on its land, poses a potential threat to the Unakoti district town of Kailashahar and nearby border villages during the monsoon season.
An official team led by Unakoti District Magistrate Dilip Kumar Chakma visited the border areas on Friday. Chakma stated that he would submit a report to the state government, enabling them to address the issue with the Central government for appropriate action. Following the District Magistrate's detailed report to Agartala, the Chief Minister took up the matter with the Union Home Minister, urging discussions with the Bangladesh government. New Delhi is expected to request Dhaka to halt the construction of the embankment along the Manu River, which serves as a boundary between the two countries.
According to preliminary information, the Bangladesh government constructed a 10 km long concrete embankment along the zero line without consulting Indian authorities. Bangladesh has already completed around 3 km of the embankment, with work ongoing for the remaining portion. The official noted that the high embankment could severely impact Kailashahar and many border villages during the monsoon due to recurring floods.
The official cited the Indira-Mujib pact, signed on March 19, 1972, and the 1975 Joint India-Bangladesh guidelines for border authorities, which prohibit unilateral construction within 150 yards of the zero line of the international boundary. On the Indian side, an embankment constructed several decades ago, more than 350 yards from the zero line, has a significantly lower height.
"The height of the embankment on our side must be raised substantially; otherwise, Kailashahar and many border villages will be submerged by floodwaters during the monsoon," the official emphasized.
Congress legislator from Kailashahar, Birajit Sinha, also a former minister, raised the embankment issue during the recently concluded winter session of the Tripura Assembly, urging the state government to address the matter with the Centre. In response, Chief Minister Manik Saha assured the house that he would take up the issue with the Centre.