Bangladesh Consular Visits to Assam Jails Stalled Despite MEA Approval

The Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Guwahati is facing delays in obtaining permission for consular visits to jails in Assam, despite receiving approval from the Ministry of External Affairs. Four requests have gone unanswered by the State Government, raising concerns about the verification process for Bangladeshi nationals declared by the Court. This situation is compounded by the ongoing push for a 'push back' policy amid strained Indo-Bangla relations. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has emphasized the urgency of deporting individuals identified as foreigners. With over 650 travel permits issued in recent years, the need for consular access remains critical.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jan 17, 2026, 11:20 IST

Guwahati's Consular Access Delays

Guwahati, Jan 17: Although the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has granted its consent, the State Government has yet to respond to requests from the Office of the Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Guwahati for permission to conduct consular visits to local jails.

Sources indicate that over the past month, the Home and Political Department has not addressed four requests for jail visits from the Assistant High Commissioner's office, despite receiving MEA approval.

Three of these requests have already lapsed without any acknowledgment since December 2025, and the fourth is nearing expiration. All four requests, which included MEA approval, were submitted in December.

“This is unprecedented since the establishment of the Consular Office in 2017,” a source remarked.

Consular access is essential for verifying the backgrounds of individuals identified as Bangladeshi nationals by the Court. Upon verification, the Consular Office issues the necessary Travel Permit (TP) to facilitate their deportation.

Records show that the Office of the Assistant High Commissioner in Guwahati has issued over 650 TPs in the last eight years to assist in the repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals.

Currently, around 45 declared Bangladeshi nationals are held in four detention centers across the State. Guwahati Central Jail accommodates 16 of these inmates, while Dhubri district jail has 12, with the remainder located in Karimganj district jail and the Matia detention camp in Goalpara.

This situation arises amid the State Government's initiative for a 'push back' policy, with insiders attributing the delays to the strained relations between India and Bangladesh.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently announced that all individuals identified as foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) would be deported within a week.

Official statistics reveal that from May 2021 to November 2025, 1,517 foreigners were deported. During this timeframe, 59,757 cases were resolved by the FTs, while 77,883 cases remain pending. Among these, 30,264 individuals were declared foreigners, and 15,359 were deemed “not foreigners.” Presently, 100 FTs are operational in Assam.