AGARTALA: In the wake of the prevailing law and order situation in Bangladesh, the Border Security Force (BSF) has intensified security measures along the Indo-Bangla border in Tripura.
Tripura BSF IG Patel Piyush Purushottam Das, on Sunday, said, “Due to Tripura’s strategic location, bordered by Bangladesh on three sides, the current unrest poses substantial security risks.”
Notably, Tripura shares an 856-km-long international border with Bangladesh.
He said that one of the major concerns is the safe return of the over 8,000 Indian students studying in Bangladesh, most of whom are enrolled in medical colleges in Comilla, Brahmanbaria, and in Dhaka.
“Many have been crossing into India through four Integrated Check Posts (ICPs) and Land Customs Stations (LCSs) via Agartala in West Tripura district and Srimantapur in Sepahijala district,” Das said.
On Saturday, the BSF facilitated the entry of 365 students, with 300 arriving through the Srimantapur Integrated Check Post (ICP) in the Sonamura sub-division in Tripura’s Sepahijala district. The remaining students entered through the Agartala-Akhaura ICP in the state’s West district.
The BSF has implemented comprehensive arrangements at these ICPs to ensure the students’ safe arrival, including provisions for refreshments, food packets, transportation, and medical aid.
The BSF has indicated that an additional influx of students is expected to cross the border in the coming days. The BSF is fully prepared to provide all assistance and ensure their safe return home, he said.
On the security aspects, he said, “Security has been beefed up along the border so that criminal elements from across the border don’t take advantage of the current situation. Troops are on high alert, and maximum personnel have been mobilized and deployed along the border.”
Tipra Motha supremo Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, on Saturday, urged the Centre to enhance vigil along the country’s border with violence-hit Bangladesh.
