In response to a recent surge in deportations of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from India, the Bangladesh government is preparing to send an official communication to New Delhi seeking detailed clarification on the repatriation procedures.
Muhammad Tushid Hossain, adviser on foreign affairs for Bangladesh, told local media that a structured and transparent mechanism is urgently needed to address these sensitive consular matters. This demand follows stepped-up border enforcement measures initiated after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to The Indian Express, quoting Indian security sources, India’s “Operation Sindoor,” launched on May 7, has led to the deportation of more than 2,000 illegal Bangladeshi nationals. The operation targets suspected infiltrators and sleeper agents as part of a comprehensive internal security crackdown triggered by the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which is widely believed to have been supported by Pakistani operatives.
Reports indicate that the crackdown has instilled widespread fear, leading many Bangladeshis to leave India voluntarily. Indian officials confirm that roughly the same number of individuals have crossed the border on their own, seeking to avoid detention or legal penalties. “Many arrived at the border alone, eager to evade confrontation with enforcement officers,” an official said, attributing the voluntary departures to extensive media coverage and intensified ground-level policing.
The operation has concentrated primarily on border states such as Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam. Officials emphasize that the choice of these states was based on logistical considerations rather than political motivations, despite speculation regarding the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) influence. For instance, BJP presence in Meghalaya is minimal. The states were selected for tactical reasons.
In contrast, West Bengal has seen limited enforcement activity due to its complex border, which often overlaps familial and community ties, complicating law enforcement efforts.
Those deported are transported via Indian Air Force flights from detention centers in Gujarat, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, Assam, and Rajasthan. Upon arrival at the border, they are handed over to the Border Security Force (BSF) and held briefly in transit facilities, where they receive food and sometimes small amounts of Bangladeshi currency to support their journey home.
While Indian authorities maintain the operation’s legality and necessity, the developments have raised diplomatic concerns in Dhaka. Bangladesh is expected to request prior notification of deportations and advocate for a bilateral framework to coordinate such actions more effectively.
The issue has escalated into a significant diplomatic challenge, underscoring the delicate balance New Delhi must strike between domestic security imperatives and maintaining regional goodwill amid growing geopolitical sensitivities in South Asia.
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