Emotion and anxiety at Akhaura border retreat show

The retreat of a bugle and marching by Border Security Force soldiers in crisp uniforms was in harmony with Border Guard Bangladesh personnel as the two sides performed a Retreat Ceremony drill on a February weekend.

- NINGLUN HANGHAL

At the Agartala-Akhaura international border point in Tripura, a hundred spectators on both sides watched in pride taking pictures and videos as the flags are lowered on each side in a perfectly choreographed routine every weekend.

As one comes in from Agartala, a huge land custom station akin to one at the Amritsar border for Pakistan has come up. Enter inside and there is a registration table. "Aadhaar card?" asked BSF head constable Amerika Singh, before handing out an entry pass to the visitors.

Contrary to the aggressive feet-stomping retreat ceremony at the Wagah border on the India-Pakistan border in Punjab, this one is solemn.

Despite the current coldness of relations between the two countries, the ceremony continues.

People from all walks of life, common citizens, turned up to watch, witness, and have a moment to interact with citizens on the other side.

Given that Akhaura border serves as a legal entry to and from Bangladesh, there was little activity in wake of the crisis in the neighboring country. It is the land custom station for border crossing and trade with Tripura and the Northeast at large.

The ceremony with the uniformed pomp was less than an hour. The boundary on the road to Brahmanbari in Bangladesh was barricaded immediately after the retreat ceremony as two expressionless soldiers of BSF and BGB stood guard on each side.

Visitors from both sides, however, were expressive. Many of them talking to one another. People on both sides have relatives on the other side. "Apni Ami to akei (there is no difference between us)," said a smiling Azizur Rahman, a local journalist from Bangladesh as he invited us to Bangladesh.