Bangladesh Expresses Concerns Over Migrant Pushbacks Amid Political Changes in India
Concerns Raised by Bangladesh Amid Political Shifts
A file image of security personnel patrol the Surma River near India-Bangladesh border in Cachar. (AT Photo)
Dhaka/Guwahati, May 6: Following the BJP's significant victories in crucial border states, Bangladesh expressed optimism on Wednesday that there would not be an increase in reported incidents of suspected illegal migrants being pushed back from India. The Bangladeshi authorities have instructed their border forces to maintain heightened vigilance.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed conveyed his hope that there would be 'no such incident' when questioned about the potential rise in pushbacks due to the political changes in neighboring Indian states.
Ahmed stated, 'I hope no such incident (push backs) will happen,' while emphasizing the need for the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to stay alert along the border.
His comments followed a statement from Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who indicated that the government would respond if any 'push-in' incidents occurred amid the political transitions in India.
These remarks came after the announcement of Assembly election results on Monday in four states and one Union Territory, including Assam and West Bengal, where the BJP achieved notable victories.
In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, buoyed by the BJP-led NDA's decisive win, reaffirmed that the government's stance on illegal immigration from Bangladesh would remain steadfast in its new term.
Sarma highlighted the BJP's 'non-compromising stand' against illegal encroachment by Bangladeshi immigrants as a pivotal issue during the electoral campaign.
He stated, 'It played a key role, and we’re committed to every promise made during the campaigning. Encroachment won’t stop, and we will continue evicting land from illegal infiltrators,' following the election results.
Earlier in March, while presenting the BJP’s Sankalp Patra for the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, Sarma had also mentioned that the party would rigorously implement the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, 1950 if re-elected.
However, official statistics and parliamentary records reveal a consistent decline in deportations from Assam over the years.
In 2009, the number of deportations was recorded at 10,602, which decreased to 6,290 in 2010 and 6,761 in 2011. The figures continued to drop to 5,234 in 2013 and plummeted to 989 in 2014.
Deportations further fell to 474 in 2015, 308 in 2016, and just 51 in 2017.
Recent data shows a similar trend, with only 868 deportations officially documented between 2013 and 2026.
Last year, 52 individuals were deported under the Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act, while 1,421 immigrants were reportedly 'pushed back' after allegedly entering India illegally.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there are currently 2,369 cases pending related to nationality verification.