AGARTALA, Oct 16 (TIWN): Even after 5 days of the incident of snatching of permit from TRTC official for Maitry bus service in Dhaka, no Bangladesh official statement condemning the offence or explanation has so far been issued by the Bangladesh authority. The so called ‘friends of Bangladesh’ of Tripura (formed by the over enthusiast CPI-M leaders late Anil Sarkar and Goutam Das and their followers), Tripura CM Manik Sarkar also silent over the matter even though the lives of Tripura people are at stake in the hands of so called ‘friends’ of Bangladesh. They may be happy enough oiling their Dhaka friends but people of Tripura are scared of availing the MAITRY bus service slated to be inaugurated on 16th instant, as announced by state Transport Minister Manik Dey. The incident of snatching permit from TRTC official in Dhaka on Sunday has incited tension in the state and people are scared of buying Maitry bus ticket. Bangladesh govt is yet to react on the offensive launched in BRTC office by a section of Bangladeshi citizen. The BRTC employees and workers had openly threatened action once the TRTC bus Maitry enters Dhaka.

Govt of India has strongly reacted to the matter and asked Dhaka to react.

The report last received from the intelligence agencies of both side attacks on the TRTC bus to Kolkata via Bangladesh cannot be ruled out even though Indian authority had asked Dhaka to make security arrangements for the safe passage of the TRTC bus Maitry. 

So far no assurance has been given by Bangladesh authority to protect the lives of the passengers to be boarding on Maitry. The incident of attack on Maitry in Bangladesh few years back is still fresh in the mind of the Tripura people who had suffered a lot during the month long Bangladesh liberation war in 1971. Maitry was set ablaze by the Bangladeshi hooligans and no action was taken and culprits are yet to be booked.

The state govt on its own yet to communicate any apprehension to Dhaka and no help of the Dhaka intellectuals has so far been sought nor the ‘Bangladeshi friends’ offered to render any help in the new crisis created by the Bangladeshi people. The passengers are so scared that they are not ready to take any risk on their lives. Only few have bought bus ticket to avail Maitry bus service to begin on Friday next, so far. While talking to this reporter few passengers openly criticized the state govt and the party in power for showing excessive sympathy and their  pro Bangladesh attitude and urged the union govt to look in to the security of the passengers.

The fear has gripped the people so much so that many rather prefer to avail Shyamali bus service in case of any emergency not the Maitry.

Meanwhile state transport minister has announced new fare for Maitry bus. New fare will be Rs.1800 instead of Rs.1500 as announced by the state transport secretary last month. The Maitry bus will run between Agartala and Kolkata trice in a week if everything goes right, a TRTC official informed.