The rising tensions between India and Bangladesh over the repatriation of illegal immigrants have escalated into a serious diplomatic and security concern, especially in the wake of political upheaval in Dhaka and an increasingly hostile narrative toward India.
India, citing national security and demographic challenges, has begun cracking down on illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, with reports that 67 individuals were sent back on Tuesday and 13 more stranded at the Zero Line on Wednesday. This action has been met with strong resistance from Bangladeshi officials and political leaders, who view the move as an affront to their sovereignty and a violation of international norms.
The Bangladesh Army has warned that the situation is "unacceptable," with Brigadier General Md Nazim-ud-Daula saying the army is ready to intervene if necessary. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), backed by local civilians, has already blocked multiple push-in attempts by India along the Lalmonirhat border, particularly affecting the Cooch Behar-Lalmonirhat corridor.
The zero line standoff is symbolic of worsening ties. According to The Daily Star, 13 people, including women and infants, remain stranded in no man's land, with no solution or response from Indian authorities despite requests for a flag meeting. Meanwhile, New Age, a Dhaka-based daily, reported that over 800 individuals, including Indian nationals and Rohingya refugees, have been pushed into Bangladesh since May 7, a claim that vastly exceeds India's official numbers.
India has long viewed illegal immigration from Bangladesh as a serious internal threat. In 2016, then junior Home Minister Kiren Rijiju said 20 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants were in India. States like Assam, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Rajasthan have reported sharp demographic shifts and social tensions, with Murshidabad riots recently linked to illegal aliens.
India’s Ministry of Home Affairs stated in February 2025 that 3,232 km of the 4,096.7-km India-Bangladesh border had been fenced. However, attempts to fence key stretches, especially in sensitive districts, have been resisted by the BGB, with barbed wire disputes resurfacing as recently as January.
Bangladesh's official position is that any Bangladeshi national staying illegally in India should be returned via proper diplomatic and legal channels. Lt. Gen. Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd), the country’s current Home Affairs Adviser, reiterated this on May 18, stressing due process.
But the diplomatic tone has hardened since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s exile in August 2024. Her ouster led to a surge of anti-India sentiment and the rise of groups that view India as having propped up an authoritarian regime. New factions in Dhaka, including the National City Party, now accuse India of creating a "direct security threat" and violating international law.
The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry had already raised objections on May 9, asking India to abide by repatriation agreements rather than unilaterally sending people across the border.
In the backdrop of strained diplomatic ties, the pushback from Bangladesh, both politically and militarily, has transformed what might have been a routine border issue into a regional flashpoint. With mutual trust eroding, and with increasing coordination between the BGB, military leadership, and local civilian networks, India’s enforcement actions are now drawing stronger resistance than ever before.
The unfolding standoff reflects how illegal immigration, national security, and shifting political landscapes in both countries are colliding at the sensitive and porous frontier, testing one of South Asia’s most important bilateral relationships.
