BNP plans long march to Agartala amid rising tensions with India

The BNP has announced plans to organize a long march towards Agartala in protest against alleged Indian aggression. This march, which will cover the route from Dhaka to Agartala, will be conducted under the joint banner of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal. However, the exact date, day, and format of the long march are yet to be finalized and will be decided in a meeting of the three organizations later today. The decision to organize this program was made during a virtual meeting on Thursday, chaired by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, alongside top leaders of these affiliated organizations. The BNP has stated that tensions between Bangladesh and India have escalated due to several incidents, including the fall of the Awami League government, the alleged refuge of Sheikh Hasina in India, and the arrest and bail issue of Bangladesh Sammilit Sanatani Jagran Jote spokesperson Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari. The situation worsened following attacks on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala, where the premises were reportedly vandalized, and the national flag was desecrated. These incidents were discussed during the BNP Standing Committee meeting, where concerns were raised about India's actions, which were deemed to violate diplomatic norms and interfere unnecessarily in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. In response to these developments, BNP policymakers decided to voice their stance against India, leading to the joint decision by the three affiliated organizations to proceed with the long march.