Tripartite agreement signed among Centre, Assam, all NDFB factions and ABSU

January 27: In a significant development, Government of India on Monday signed a tripartite agreement with representatives of all factions of banned organisation National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) at Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

The tripartite agreement was signed by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, top leadership of the four factions of the NDFB, ABSU, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry Satyendra Garg and Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Assam Finance Minister Dr. himanta Biswa Sarma was also present during the signing of the accord.

A total of 1550 NDFB cadres will surrender arms in a ceremony on 30 January. As per the accord, BTAD will be renamed as Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR). The number of seats in BTAD will be increased from 40 to 60. A special package of Rs 900 crore has been granted by the Centre for overall development of the Bodoland areas. Railway coach factory to be set up in BTAD area. Bodo language will now be an associate official language with Devanagari script in Assam.