Bangladeshi tribals, mostly women and children, seek shelter in Tripura

About 168 Bangladeshis, most of them women and children from a minority tribal community, has taken shelter in the Indian state of Tripura, an official has said.

Tripura Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 25 June 2016, 04:03 PM
Updated : 25 June 2016, 04:03 PM

He said they had sneaked into India on Saturday, fleeing alleged atrocities back home.

The incident took place at Champahowar village (under Khowai district), around 110 km west of Tripura state capital Agartala.

Khowai Deputy Collector Mahendra K Chakma, who met the refugees, said, “We came to know they are from five villages of Habiganj (district). Most of them are tribals or from the Kharia Hindustani community. Altogether, there are 168.”

Chakma said the refugees had claimed they were forest department workers but fled because of atrocities committed by the employees of the forest beat office.

He said India and Bangladesh border guards—BSF and BGB—were in touch to arrange their return home.

“Since it is an international issue, we are having talks with the BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh). The refugees will be handed over after a flag meeting,” said Khowai.

bdnews24.com tried to reach Lt Col Sazzad Hossain, commander of the BGB battalion 55 posted in Habiganj but he did not take the call.

The BSF had not allowed the Bangladeshis to cross the border fence but were giving them food and water.

Last year, in a similar incident, more than 250 Chakma tribal families tried to enter Tripura from the southern side close to the Chittagong Hill Tracts but later returned.