BSF quash rumor on ‘protective dam construction’ along Moulvibazar border
Published: 20 January 2025, 8:00:08
A rumor of an elevated protective dam being constructed along the Manu River in Moulvibazar’s Chatlapur upazila, sparked widespread concern in Tripura’s Unakoti district, particularly in Kailashahar and surrounding areas.
The speculation caused significant unrest in local communities and drew the attention of Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Sarkar, who directed district and sub-divisional officials, along with senior BSF personnel, to investigate the matter.
On Saturday, DIG Rajib Batsaraj, Sector Commander of the BSF’s Panisagar sector, conducted an on-site inspection.
At an evening press briefing, he clarified that there was no elevated dam construction on the Bangladeshi side of the Manu River. Instead, work involved repairs to damaged embankments and the construction of rural connector roads. His statement helped calm the situation.
Field visits on Sunday to areas in Sharifpur union near the border revealed ongoing restoration work on sections of embankments damaged by previous floods. Workers were placing stone blocks to reinforce these structures, but the repairs adhered to existing dimensions and did not involve new, elevated constructions.
A road linking the Kulaura upazila headquarters to local areas was also under construction, some parts of which run adjacent to the embankments.
The road project, initiated several years ago, faced interruptions due to its proximity to the Rangauti international border area, where some sections are within 75 meters of the Indian border. Construction was temporarily halted on November 24, 2024, following objections from BSF.
In Tripura, misinformation about “kilometer-long elevated dam construction” in Bangladesh spread rapidly over social media and local news outlets, eventually reaching the state assembly. Officials clarified the misunderstanding after an investigation and confirmed that the rumors were baseless.
An online portal, Tripura Prabaha, reported that the BSF’s sector commander stated during his Saturday briefing at the 199th BSF Tilabazar camp that the activities in Bangladesh involved two local road projects and some embankment repair work, not new dam construction.
Executive Engineer of the Bangladesh Water Development Board in Moulvibazar, Khaled Bin Walid, also refuted the claims, stating that damaged embankments in the Lala Chak area were being restored using stone blocks. He reiterated that no elevated dam construction was underway.
He highlighted the urgent need for embankment repairs in other areas, such as Mokabil in Kamalganj, which had suffered significant damage during the last monsoon. However, these efforts have been delayed due to objections from Indian border guards. The engineer expressed concerns that if these obstacles persist, rising waters in the Dhalai River during the upcoming monsoon could inundate nearby villages.
Efforts to address these issues continue, emphasizing the importance of coordination between the two countries under the Joint River Commission to ensure sustainable flood management and border harmony.
