Agartala, Dec 19: Hundreds of indigenous youths and students on Friday staged a massive demonstration outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Agartala, protesting against alleged threats and derogatory remarks made by Hasnat Abdullah — a Bangladeshi leader of the newly formed National Citizens Party (NCP).
Organised by the Youth TIPRA Federation (YTF), one of Tripura’s largest tribal youth groups, protesters condemned Abdullah’s reported statement claiming that if India attempted to “destabilise” Bangladesh, Dhaka could retaliate by backing efforts to isolate India’s northeastern “seven sister” states.
Abdullah, a former convener of Students Against Discrimination — a movement that spearheaded Bangladesh’s 2024 student–people uprising — is currently the NCP’s chief organiser for the southern region.
YTF leaders said Friday’s demonstration made TIPRA Motha and its youth wing the only political entities in the Northeast to publicly protest near a Bangladeshi mission since Abdullah’s comments surfaced.
Addressing the gathering, YTF president Suraj Debbarma said younger generations in Bangladesh appeared to have forgotten that the country was founded with India’s support and the sacrifices of Indian soldiers during the 1971 Liberation War.
“Today, they are portraying India as an enemy, which is deeply unfortunate,” he said.
Debbarma also drew attention to previous remarks allegedly made by a former Bangladeshi Army officer regarding the vulnerability of Northeast India, which remains connected to the mainland only through the narrow Siliguri Corridor.
He said the protest was a reminder that the Northeast does not have access to the sea, cautioning Bangladesh against actions that could “force reactions from the Tiprasa people.”
The YTF chief earlier this year led a major protest at the India–Bangladesh border in South Tripura’s Belonia, opposing what he said was the illegal construction of an embankment by Bangladesh along the international boundary.
Debbarma urged the Centre to ensure strict protection along the over 4,000-km-long India–Bangladesh border and said that indigenous people should be empowered to safeguard land and interests if required.
Expressing concern over Bangladesh’s upcoming general elections in February, he warned of potential instability and alleged that the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was under external influence.
He further cautioned that continued hostility and alleged atrocities against minorities, especially indigenous communities in Bangladesh, “would not be tolerated.”
“We are protesting peacefully today, but the Tiprasa people will not remain silent spectators if such actions continue,” he said.
Protesters also raised slogans against Muhammad Yunus but were prevented by heavy security deployment from approaching the Deputy High Commission premises.
The rally ended with chants of “Long live India,”6 “Long live Northeast,” and “Long live Tripura,” as security personnel kept tight watch over the situation.
