The turmoil in Bangladesh has prompted the North Dinajpur district administration to cancel the Milan Mela, the fair organised on the international border for almost five decades.

Every year, hundreds of Indians and Bangladeshis assemble on either side of the barbed wire fence at Chainagar in the Hemtabad block of the district. They greet their family members and relatives who live on the other side of the border, exchange gifts, and cherish the fleeting moments of togetherness.

The one-day fair is coordinated with the BSF and the Border Guard Bangladesh in the first week of December. This year, it was supposed to be held on December 6.

“Considering the present situation in Bangladesh, we have decided to cancel the fair this year. Also, we received a request from the BSF and made the decision. At border villages, public announcements are being made to inform people about the cancellation of the fair,” said Raiganj subdivisional officer Kingshuk Maity.

Champa Barman, who is from the Thakurgaon district of Bangladesh and moved to India after her marriage and stays at Shishgram village in Raiganj block, sounded disappointed with the decision. “I was looking forward to meeting my elderly mother and relatives during this year’s Milan Mela,” she said.

She recounted how her family had meticulously planned for the reunion, even preparing homemade treats like chirer naru (sweet balls made of flattened rice) for her mother. Champa lamented that the fair would have been her only chance to introduce her grandson to his great-grandmother, she said.

Sources said the fair had historically been held on the occasion of a Kali Puja celebrated in Thakurgaon, a tradition that predates the partition.

“After the partition, when cross-border visits became nearly impossible, the Milan Mela emerged as a way for people on both sides to maintain their familial and cultural ties,” said a source.

Along with the administration, elected representatives of local panchayats, especially in Hemtabad, Raiganj and Kaliaganj blocks are also informing people about the cancellation of the annual event.

Every year, the BSF and local police would allow the event to proceed informally, understanding its emotional significance, while maintaining strict surveillance.

Moklesa Khatun, a member of North Dinajpur zilla parishad who is from Hemtabad, said: “A section of villagers understood the reason for the fair’s cancellation but others were disappointed. We hope they understand the current situation in Bangladesh is not congenial for the fair and we should also keep in mind the issue of security at the border.”