‘Leave our mangoes alone!’: A tragicomic reality show at the India-Bangladesh border

Borders – those invisible lines that divide nations yet somehow unite people in absurdity – have long been sites of drama, tension, and the occasional comedy.

Nowhere is this more evident than at the India-Bangladesh border near Chapainawabganj, where mangoes have become the unlikeliest of symbols for a much larger and messier saga. Imagine, farmers hurling accusations across the border, security forces fencing off disputed lands like contestants in a bizarre reality show, and loudspeakers broadcasting dramatic warnings about fruit theft.

If this sounds like the plot of an outlandish rural soap opera, think again. This is real life, where mangoes, land disputes, and centuries-old tensions collide in a spectacle that’s as tragic as it is ridiculous.

What should have been a peaceful agricultural zone has turned into a battleground of claims, counterclaims, and raw emotions. The chaos is not just about fruit or fences – it’s a reflection of deeper frustrations, identity struggles, and survival instincts. Welcome to the Chapainawabganj border, where diplomacy takes a backseat, and mangoes take centre stage.

When you dig deeper, the story reveals layers of unresolved issues that go beyond the sweet fruit. On one side of the border, Bangladeshi farmers accuse India’s Border Security Force of encroaching on their lands, cutting…

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