India Urges Bangladesh to Expedite Verification of Suspected Illegal Immigrants

New Delhi has formally urged Dhaka to accelerate the nationality verification process for a significant number of individuals suspected of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. This diplomatic engagement follows recent statements from Bangladesh indicating a firm stance against any unilateral 'push-in' of its citizens across the border by India. The issue of illegal migration has long been a sensitive point of contention between the two neighboring nations, particularly concerning India's eastern border states.

“

This obviously requires cooperation from Bangladesh. Over 2,862 cases of nationality verification are pending with Bangladesh, and a lot of it for over five years

Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's External Affairs Ministry, highlighted that over 2,862 nationality verification cases are currently pending with Bangladesh, with many awaiting resolution for more than five years. He reiterated India's policy of repatriating any foreign national found to be residing illegally, in accordance with established laws and bilateral agreements. Jaiswal stressed that smooth repatriation hinges on Bangladesh's prompt cooperation in verifying the nationalities of these individuals.

The Bangladeshi government, through its Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, has publicly stated its intention to take action should any 'push-in' incidents occur. This assertion was made shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party's victory in the West Bengal assembly elections, a region that has historically been a focal point for migration concerns. The previous ruling party in West Bengal had faced accusations from the BJP regarding the alleged influx of Bangladeshi nationals, a charge that was consistently denied.

“

Our policy is that any foreign national who is illegal in the country, he or she must be repatriated as per our laws, procedures and established bilateral arrangements.

Bangladesh's Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has also expressed hope that such pushback incidents will not occur, especially following the recent election results in India. He confirmed that the Border Guard Bangladesh has been instructed to maintain heightened vigilance along the frontiers. Dhaka has previously lodged protests against alleged 'pushback' operations by India, some of which led to controversy when individuals deported were later found to be Indian citizens. India, in turn, views the prompt verification and repatriation of illegal migrants as a crucial aspect of bilateral cooperation, underscoring the need for a coordinated approach to manage cross-border population movements effectively.

“

I hope no such incident will happen