Tension at Belonia Border as Tipra Motha Protests Bangladesh’s Dam Construction

Agartala, Apr 28, 2025, By Our Correspondent

Agartala: April 28: Tensions flared at the Belonia Ballamukha border in Tripura following strong protests by Tipra Motha workers against Bangladesh's alleged illegal construction of a dam. The protest, held at Bankar Uttar Para, drew supporters from across the state, sparking a clash with security forces as demonstrators attempted to march towards the international border.

According to reports, Bangladesh is building a dam in the Ballamukha border area, which Tipra Motha claims violates the International Boundary Delimitation Act. The issue has raised significant concern among the local population, with the protest intensifying today under the leadership of Tipra Motha supporters. As soon as the large gathering attempted to move toward the border site, the police and senior Border Security Force (BSF) officials rushed to the scene to control the situation, leading to confrontations between security personnel and demonstrators.

The incident has triggered political fallout as well, with the protesters demanding the resignation of Yunus, a key figure in Bangladesh’s caretaker government, accusing him of backing the controversial project.

Tipra Motha’s former supreme leader and MDC, Pradyot Kishore Debbarma, added fuel to the fire by making a strong statement on social media. He alleged that thousands of Tipra Motha supporters were blocked by the BSF and claimed that the illegal dam construction could have been brought down if they had not been stopped. Debbarma warned that all it would take is a “green signal” for the Tiprasa youth to act.

The situation remains tense along the Tripura-Bangladesh border, with authorities maintaining a strong security presence to prevent further escalation. Meanwhile, diplomatic and local channels are expected to address the cross-border construction issue in the coming days.