Agartala, December 19 — Hundreds of indigenous youths and students on Friday staged a protest demonstration in front of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission office in Agartala, condemning what they described as threatening and derogatory remarks made by Bangladeshi leader Hasnat Abdullah. The demonstrators warned that such statements could strain bilateral relations and hurt sentiments in India’s northeastern region.
Hasnat Abdullah, a leader of Bangladesh’s newly formed National Citizens Party (NCP) and a former convener of the Students Against Discrimination movement that spearheaded the 2024 Student–People’s uprising, had reportedly stated that if India attempted to destabilise Bangladesh, Dhaka could retaliate by supporting moves to isolate India’s northeastern “seven sister” states. His remarks have drawn sharp reactions in Tripura and other parts of the Northeast.
The protest was organised by the Youth TIPRA Federation (YTF), one of Tripura’s largest tribal youth organisations. A large number of indigenous students and youths participated, raising slogans and carrying placards criticising Abdullah’s comments and asserting the unity and integrity of India.
Addressing the gathering, YTF president Suraj Debbarma said the younger political leadership in Bangladesh seemed to have forgotten the historical role played by India in the creation of Bangladesh. He recalled that Bangladesh’s independence was achieved with India’s support and the sacrifices of Indian soldiers during the 1971 Liberation War. “Issuing threats against India’s Northeast is unacceptable and deeply provocative,” Debbarma said.
He further alleged that such remarks were part of a worrying pattern, citing earlier statements by a former Bangladeshi army officer about separating the Northeast from India by exploiting the narrow Siliguri Corridor, commonly known as the “Chicken’s Neck.” Debbarma said the protest was intended to send a clear message that the people of the Northeast would not tolerate threats to their territorial integrity.
The YTF leader also referred to an earlier agitation led by him this year at the India–Bangladesh border in South Tripura’s Belonia subdivision, opposing what he claimed was an illegal embankment construction by Bangladesh along the international border.
Urging the Indian government to strengthen security along the over 4,000-km-long India–Bangladesh border, Debbarma said the Tiprasa people were capable and ready to protect their land and interests if required. He also expressed apprehensions about possible unrest in Bangladesh ahead of the elections scheduled for February next year, making allegations against the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
The protesters raised slogans against Muhammad Yunus but were prevented by heavy security deployment from approaching the Deputy High Commission building. Emphasising that the agitation was peaceful, the demonstrators warned they would strongly oppose any continued atrocities against minorities, particularly indigenous communities, in Bangladesh.
The demonstration concluded with slogans of “India long live,” “North East long live,” and “Tripura long live.”
