Sadik Sagar, Dhaka:
India’s renewed call for Bangladesh to cooperate in the repatriation of “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants” has brought migration and border management back into focus at a sensitive moment in Dhaka-New Delhi relations, particularly following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s strong electoral victory in West Bengal.
At a weekly media briefing, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said more than 2,862 nationality verification requests remained pending with Bangladesh, arguing that the repatriation process required faster cooperation from Dhaka. According to Indian media reports, Jaiswal stated that India’s policy was to repatriate all “illegal foreign nationals” in accordance with domestic laws, procedures and bilateral arrangements.
The remarks came amid growing discussions in Bangladesh over alleged “push-ins” by India’s border authorities following political developments in West Bengal and neighbouring Indian states. Bangladeshi officials have recently raised concerns regarding reports that individuals were being sent across the border without proper verification procedures.
Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman earlier said Dhaka had previously lodged strong protests when similar remarks and actions emerged from authorities in Assam. He indicated Bangladesh would take “necessary measures” if such incidents continued.
India’s latest response suggests New Delhi is attempting to frame the issue primarily as one of undocumented migration management rather than border coercion. However, the timing of the remarks also reflects how migration continues to intersect with domestic politics in eastern India, especially after the BJP’s electoral gains.
Analysts say the issue remains highly sensitive because it touches on sovereignty, border security and public sentiment in both countries. While Bangladesh and India continue to cooperate closely on trade, connectivity and regional security, disputes over undocumented migration periodically generate diplomatic friction and political messaging on both sides of the border.
The latest exchange indicates that migration management is likely to remain an important — and potentially contentious — component of Bangladesh-India relations in the coming months.
