Agartala, 18th April 2026: Residents of Kalipur-Latiapura village in Kailashahar subdivision are facing a severe livelihood crisis after the closure of border fencing gates along the India-Bangladesh frontier. For years, local farmers sustained themselves by cultivating land and rearing livestock across the border. However, for nearly two weeks, the gates have remained shut, preventing access to their farmland. As a result, agricultural activities have come to a halt, and livestock care has been disrupted, leaving many families in distress.
The situation has triggered fresh resentment in the Kailashahar Assembly constituency. Locals allege discriminatory practices, pointing out that while farmers in the neighboring Chandipur constituency are allowed to cultivate their land under Border Security Force (BSF) regulations, those in Kailashahar are barred due to gate closures. Farmers have raised their voices against this unequal treatment.
In response, villagers have submitted a written appeal to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Kailashahar, demanding regulated access through the border gates to continue farming in compliance with border laws. They further urged that if cross-border cultivation is permanently prohibited, authorities must assess the value of the affected land and provide fair compensation.
Local leader and Vice Chairman of Gournagar Panchayat Samiti, Badruzzaman, expressed the community’s frustration: “We have been farming these lands for decades. Suddenly closing the gates has left us helpless. Allowing cultivation in one area but not in another is unjust. We urge the administration to resolve this quickly, or our families will struggle to survive.”
Residents hope the administration will treat the matter with urgency, ensuring necessary measures are taken to safeguard the interests of the affected farmers.
