Agartala, Jan 18, 2025, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Jan 18:  Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha today met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to discuss key issues impacting the state, including the illegal construction of an embankment in Sharifpur, Sylhet Division, Bangladesh, near the Kailashahar border under Unakoti district.
Dr. Saha handed over a detailed letter to the Home Minister, highlighting the potential implications of the dam on the state's water resources, ecology, and border stability. 
According to sources, the Chief Minister urged the Union Government to look after the issue diplomatically.
The issue got attention after Congress MLA Birajit Sinha raised it in the Tripura Legislative Assembly in the last Session.
The Chief Minister had assured that the state government would take up the issue with the central government. 
Meanwhile, a BSF statement on Saturday sparked controversies on the issue.
BSF DIG, Panisagar sector Rajiv Vatsraj in a press briefing held at Tillabazar BOP in Kailashahar stated that it was not an embankment but a road.

According to the BSF official, an old elevated kacha track exists in Bangladesh territory opposite to the area of BOP Rangauti connecting two Bangladesh villages- Sharipur and Devipur. In Bangladesh territory this is being used for pedestrians, cycle and auto rickshaws.
He said, during monsoon season the top kacha portion of the bund got damaged resulting in a number of potholes which Bangladesh tried to repair by putting fresh earth in the month of November. As some portion of elevated kacha track falls within 150 yards of International Boundary,  immediately it was observed by BSF and on 8th Nov 2024 a casual contact was made with BGB Post Alinager 46 BGB and a strong protest was lodged to stop the work immediately. Thereafter the work was stopped by Bangladesh.
The Manu river flows close to International border. The river Manu enters into Bangladesh near own BOP Lathipura  and further flows towards Bangladesh. Manu river is approx 700 meters away from the elevated road which is being projected as a bandh of Manu river.