Northeast- East Asia old sea route to be restored

By Ratnadeep Choudhury

In order to increase trade relations between northeastern states and the Southeast Asian countries, New Delhi is contemplating on reopening old sea trade routes. Major plans have already been chalked out and New Delhi has already plunged its best foot forward to restore the Sittwe port in Myanmar, which earlier was used as an important sea port for trade with northeastern states. This was informed by Union Minister of state for Industries and Commerce Jairam Ramesh during a press conference at Agartala, during his recent visit to Tripura.
New Delhi has decided to invest Rs.4.5 billion for the infrastructure development of Myanmar's Sittwe port to connect northeastern states with East Asia. Earlier, New Delhi was keen to used the Chittagong port for building up trade relation between Northeastern states and neighbouring countries but off late Dhaka has gone cold on allowing India to use its resources for trans-country developmental project. The downbeat attitude of Bangladesh forced New Delhi to try other options, the restoration plans of Sittwe port being one of them. The Sittwe port, which was earlier known as Akyab, is planned to be connected with Mizoram through Kaladyn river. India's public sector organisation RITES is to rebuild the port, which is nearly 160 km away from Mizoram.
“ In accordance to Indo-Myanmar bilateral agreement, the work for this project would start next month and it would be completed within the next three years. Once completed, this project would bring a new lease of life in Northeast trade scenario,” Jairam Ramesh said.
Connecting the northeastern states with rest of southeast Asia could have been easier had the ports in Bangladesh were accessed, but New Delhi is now determined to do it without Bangladesh. “ Our message is clear. We wants to connect northeast with the South East Asian countries at any cost, even without Bangladesh,' Ramesh told while interacting with newsmen. He further added that after the Polls in Bangladesh are over and a new government takes charge there, New Delhi would again request Dhaka to allow India to use the port at Chittagong, Sherpur and Ashuganj. Ramesh also informed that New Delhi has decided to spend Rs.8.5 billion to develop 13 Land Customs Stations (LCSs) in the next three years to boost up trade with Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh. Of the 13 LCS, one is on the India-Pakistan border, four on the India-Nepal border, one on the India-Myanmar border and seven on the India-Bangladesh border, Agartala being one of these LCSs. “Agartala should be connected with Akhaura railway station in Bangladesh which is just 14 km away”, Ramesh opined.
The central government is also considering a plan to lay a sub-line to link the planned India-Myanmar gas pipeline for transporting natural gas. India is pushing the $3-billion pipeline plan to import gas from Myanmar through northeast. Centre is further going to promote private investment in Tripura and else where in Northeast. The Union Minister also hinted that the centre would soon announce its decision to extend the North-East Industrial Policy, which expires in March next year, with additional benefits and incentives

Zoom into the a rare historical enclave – Pilak

Nestled in the southern fringes of Tripura, Pilak bear out the close relation between Northeast and Aarakan Civilisation, our Correspondent Ratnadeep Choudhury reports from this sleepy village about the treasure remains of timeless history.

We took three hours brisk drive from Agartala to reach Pilak, a small cornered village near Jolaibari in South Tripura's Belonia subdivision. It is rahter a sleepy hamlet which quietly treasures ancient remains of Buddhist mythology, the place not only holds the key to Tripura's ancient history, but can act as a link of the similarity between civilization of northeast to many other parts of Southeast Asia, where Buddhism has thrived for decades. As one approaches pinak, the paddy field around gives a nostalgic feel, and when one lands at the site he is bound to be mesmerized by the archeological relics that the place holds. But Pilak has never been fortunate to make a name for itself, over the past few decades this archaeological site which gives conclusive proof of the peaceful existence of Hindu-Buddhist culture spanning over 8th to 12th century, has been left away from spotlight, reasons best known to Centre and state.
This place could have easily fling Tripura on top of the country's archaeological and tourist map. Pilak, made its presence felt in the seventies with the finds of archaeological objet d'art, antiques including sandstone images mostly of Lord Buddha. Other images were that of Mahisasur Mardini, Surya Dev, Avolokiteswar. The exquisite terracotta images of Lord Buddha inscribed at Pilak is worth a sight. Although it was in the seventies that the place got recognition, but experts have opined that this enchanting place drew the attention of historians and researchers in 1927 when Samarendra Debbarma, a scion of Tripura's royal Manikya Dynasty, gave detailed references to the glorious remains of the place in his book entitled Tripura Smriti. Experts also added that German scholar Dr H.B.Beshart who spoke highly of the wealth of archaeological matters contained underground later echoed Debbarma’s views about Pilak, which is said to have close connection to Myanmar and the Arakan Civilization. But the safeguarding of these ancient relics at Pilak only started in 1973 under the initiation of the then Chief Minister of Tripura Sukhamay Sengupta.
According to archeologist, Pilak was reffered as as 'pilakko' in a stone inscription at Mruhang, which was then the capital of the old Aarakan, along the Aarakan ranges of now what we know as Myanmar. He asserted on the basis of Mog folklore and tradition of oral history that in remote past there was close cultural link between 'pilakko' and Arakan via Chittaong hill-tracts of present Bangladesh. 'The sculptural and architectural remains of Pilak closely resemble those found in the Maynamoti-Paharpur area in Comilla district. What, however, has brought Pilak into limelight afresh is the excavation of a full-sized Buddhist stupa in the 'Shyamsundar tilla' area. Explaining the importance of the newly excavated site Mr Narayan Chandra Debnath, a senior conservation assistant of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) said' this is a full-size Buddhist stupa built in 11th century on the pattern of architecture during the reign of palas of Bengal '. Mr Debnath who has been in charge of the Pilak site since 1999 said the stupa had been excavated under the supervision of ASI superintendent Mr P.Kumaran since January 1999 and completed in March this year. He pointed out that the stone image of meditating Buddha found in the sanctum sanctorum of the stupa had 'very close affinity to tribal features on the mouth'. He said that Pilak archaeological site was spread over three square kms of land west of Jolaibari market area in Belonia subdivision.' The sites are known as 'Shyamsundar tilla', 'Thakurani tilla', 'Sagar doba', 'Debdaru' 'Basudebbari' around Jolaibari market' Mr Debnath added. Regarding the preservation of the site and its potential as a tourist spot Mr Thaikhai Chowhdury said the ASI had taken over the site since 1999 and its treasure trove was now under protection according to the provisions of government of India's relevant Act of 1958. He asserted that the state government had plans to develop the site for Buddhist tourists of South East Asia and other places' and for this we have submitted a project of Rs 150 crores to centre '. The centre will seek financial assistance from the government of Japan, he added. The state government has already developed the site as a tourist spot by setting up a cafetaria and providing other facilities for visitors from outside. The place also lies in a strategic location near the trijunction of Tripura, Chittagong hill-tracts of Bangladesh and present Myanmar'. 'Pilak is a treasure house of history which is just waiting to be unearthed'.

No more lunch in India for Bangladeshi rickshaw pullers

Ratnadeep Choudhury

Barely two years back, for hundreds of Bangladeshi rickshaw pullers, who used to illegally cross into Tripura, it was a regular routine to have their breakfast in Bangladesh, lunch in India, and dinner again back home in Bangladesh. For years it has been the same tale. Hundreds of Bangladeshi nationals enter Tripura's capital Agartala early in the morning, work for the day and return to their homes in the disguise of darkness. They are engaged in various works, pulling rickshaw being the most popular one. With the Indo-Bangla border being fenced and introduction of identity cards for registered rickshaw pullers by Agartala Municipal Council, this trend has got a major set back, there has been a significant downsize in the rate of illegal influx of these Bangladeshi rickshaw pullers.
Across the border, opposite to Agartala, there is Akhuara, a small hamlet in Bangladesh. Akhaura is barely a mile away from the Agartala city. Bangladeshi nationals have been illegally crossing the border into Agartala in search of works. Most of them have been pulling rickshaws, which they hire on a daily basis, while some do odd casual jobs in the city. There are an estimated 15,000 rickshaws that ply in Agartala every day, though only about 4,000 are registered with the Agartala Municipal Council (AMC). There are about 11,000 odds unregistered rickshaws in the city, a sizable share of which are pulled by the Bangladeshi nationals. Few years back, the state government took a notice of the unprecedented trend of Bangladeshi nationals pulling rickshaw at Agartala. AMC decided to issue identity cards after thoughtful scrutiny and keep a check on a regular basis. On November 21,2003, AMC introduced the identity cards for the registered rickshaw pullers, till then the number of illegal rickshaw pullers has been in check. “Here, You cannot distinguish an Indian from a Bangladeshi as we look same, wear nearly same dresses and also speak the same language. So AMC decided to introduce photo identity cards for registered rickshaw pullers in Agartala and till now it has worked well," opined Sankar Das, the Chairperson of AMC.
The erection of barbed wire fencing along the Indo-Bangla border in Tripura has also played a key role to tone down the infiltration bids by Bangladeshi nationals. Besides over the year’s time, BSF has increased its strength in this frontier. “ When the border was porous, it was hard for our jawans to identify an Indian and Bangladeshi since they speak the same language and look same. Now the fencing has definitely made our work easier, the Bangladeshi nationals who used to sneak into this part on regular basis are rare and if they try our jawan catch them, moreover we have intensified our deployment along the border,” says P.G Sabastian, DIG,Tripura Sector of BSF. The Indian border guards, of late, have been concerned with the movement of petty traffickers across the border, and therefore increased its vigil.
The influx of Bangladeshi rickshaw pullers was also a matter of grave worry for the Indian rickshaw puller since they were to compete the Bangladeshis’ for a livelihood.
Rajib Das, an Indian rickshaw puller at Agartala said “ The Bangladeshi’s used to charge less fare for longer distances as they were sometimes not aware of the localities, which in turn used to effect us as some passengers used to prefer them. Now that they are less in number, we are earning more and why should they earn in our country, but the AMC officials are no more serious with the checking of cards”.
The tottering rural economy in Bangladesh has always forced its people in the bordering villages to sneak into neighbouring Indian states in search of livelihood.