- By Supratik Das
- Fri, 23 May 2025 12:17 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India has formally requested Bangladesh to expedite the verification of nationality for over 2,300 individuals suspected to be illegal Bangladeshi migrants living in India. The move is part of New Delhi’s efforts to deport foreigners staying in the country illegally, many of whom have completed their jail terms but remain in India due to pending nationality confirmation.
Pending Since 2020: India Calls For Verification
Talking to the media on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “We have asked the Bangladeshi side to verify their nationality. We have a pending list of 2,369 people who are required to be deported.”
Jaiswal stressed that a significant number of these individuals had already served their sentences. “In many cases, the nationality verification has been pending since 2020. So, almost five years have gone by. We urge the Bangladeshi side to expedite the process,” he said.
Pushbacks Across The Border Intensify
As tensions mounted, Indian officials increased efforts to repatriate illegal Bangladeshi migrants. Reports in Bangladeshi media say at least 109 individuals were repatriated in eight border districts since Wednesday evening. They were mostly living in Gujarat. Indian officials had previously repatriated yet another batch of up to 300 illegal migrants via several land borders in early May.
This new turn of events comes amid diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh. Relations between the two countries hit a sharp downturn after former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina escaped Dhaka during huge anti-government rallies and took shelter in India in August last year. Tensions have increased further under the interim administration of Muhammad Yunus, which has faced criticism for not being able to stop atrocities against religious minorities, Hindu, in particular. India has raised concerns about the atrocities reported consistently, but the government under Yunus brushed aside the reports as "exaggerated."
As relations between the two countries deteriorate, India has levied trade curbs on Bangladesh's exporting industries. India recently limited imports of ready-made garments from Bangladesh only to the Kolkata and Nhava Sheva ports. Imports of several consumer items were also prohibited through 13 land border points in the Northeast and West Bengal.
The problem of illegal Bangladeshi migrants continues to be a thorny issue in India, especially in bordering states like West Bengal, Assam, and Tripura. Officials have stepped up identification drives and legal actions to deal with the rising tide of illegal foreigners. “Foreigners staying in India illegally, whether they are Bangladeshi nationals or from any other country, will be dealt with as per the law,” Jaiswal added.