Tensions along the Indo-Bangladesh border do not seem to be subsiding shortly as Bangladesh is now constructing a permanent river embankment at zero point along the border in Tripura. The construction is reportedly taking place between the Moulvibazar district in Bangladesh and the Kailashahar sub-division in Unakoti district in Tripura. Unakoti District Magistrate, Dilip Kumar Chakma, along with other senior officials inspected the site on Friday, January 17.
DM Chakma informed the media that Bangladesh’s move to raise the height of the embankment could endanger the Kailashahar region in Tripura with flood water. “They (Bangladesh) are building an embankment for the protection from floods. We visited the border area to take stock of it. We thought they have substantially raised the height of their embankment”, said Chakma. “We will be required to strengthen our existing embankment as water will flow towards us more now. The matter has to be dealt with at a higher level”, he added.
The DM further informed that the Indian embankment is located around 350 yards from the zero point. “We have no idea about the length of the embankment, roughly around 1 km of it is visible. Work is still in progress. We learnt that they are preparing to make it pucca. I feel India should take necessary steps”, Chakma said. The state government is likely to take up the matter before the central government after receiving a report from the DM.
The embankment violates the Indira-Mujib Treaty
The embankment might worsen the situation during a flood as river Manu flows between the two districts. Bangladesh, which vehemently opposed India’s efforts to set up a fence along the Indo-Bangladesh to counter the problem of growing infiltration, did not reportedly inform India before starting the construction. The construction violates the Indo-Bangladesh Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Peace (also known as the Indira-Mujib Treaty, 1972) which prohibits any permanent construction within the zero point. The zero point falls within 150 yards of the border pillars on both sides. No construction is allowed on the zero point except through a mutual agreement.