India on Friday responded to recent remarks made by Bangladesh regarding fears of possible “pushback” operations targeting illegal immigrants after the BJP’s victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, stating that such comments must be viewed in the larger context of the long-pending issue of repatriating undocumented Bangladeshi nationals currently residing in India. New Delhi also stressed that cooperation from Dhaka remains essential for carrying out deportation and verification procedures smoothly.
Addressing the issue during a weekly press briefing, Randhir Jaiswal said India had taken note of the statements being made by Bangladeshi leaders over the past several days. According to him, the real issue at the centre of the discussion was the repatriation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants from India, which requires active coordination and support from Bangladesh authorities for nationality verification and legal processing.
Jaiswal stated that India expects Bangladesh to accelerate the process of verifying the nationality of suspected undocumented immigrants so that deportation procedures can move ahead without unnecessary delay. He revealed that more than 2,860 nationality verification requests submitted by Indian authorities are currently pending with Bangladesh, and several of those requests have reportedly remained unresolved for over five years.
The MEA spokesperson emphasised that India was seeking timely cooperation from Bangladesh in handling the issue. According to him, faster verification by Bangladeshi authorities would help ensure that the repatriation process is conducted in an orderly and smooth manner without creating diplomatic friction or administrative complications between the two neighbouring countries.
Jaiswal’s remarks came shortly after comments made by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who had warned that Bangladesh would respond if incidents of “pushback” occurred following the BJP’s rise to power in West Bengal. His statement was reportedly shared on the official Facebook page of the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
The BJP recently secured a major victory in the West Bengal Assembly elections, ending the long rule of the All India Trinamool Congress in the state. During its election campaign, the BJP repeatedly accused the government led by Mamata Banerjee of allowing large-scale infiltration from Bangladesh into West Bengal, allegations that the Trinamool Congress consistently rejected and described as politically motivated.
Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also reacted to the issue and expressed hope that no “pushback” incidents would occur after the BJP’s electoral success in Indian states sharing borders with Bangladesh. While speaking to reporters, Ahmed said he hoped such situations would not arise and added that Bangladeshi border authorities had already been instructed to remain alert.
According to Ahmed, the Border Guard Bangladesh had been directed to maintain heightened vigilance along the international frontier amid concerns that suspected illegal immigrants could potentially be sent back across the border. The term “pushback” is commonly used to describe the forced return of alleged illegal migrants across international boundaries, while receiving countries sometimes refer to such actions as “push-ins.”
Similar disputes over undocumented migration and border management have surfaced several times in recent years, especially along India’s northeastern border regions adjoining Bangladesh. The issue has frequently remained sensitive in bilateral relations due to concerns regarding illegal migration, border security, and humanitarian implications.
The latest exchange between the two countries comes at a time when diplomatic ties had recently begun showing signs of improvement. Last month, Khalilur Rahman held meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Those meetings marked the first major high-level engagement between India and Bangladesh after the BNP returned to power under the leadership of Tarique Rahman following the February elections in Bangladesh.
Relations between India and Bangladesh had deteriorated significantly during the tenure of interim chief Muhammad Yunus, who assumed office after the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. The recent diplomatic interactions were therefore viewed as an attempt by both sides to stabilise and rebuild bilateral ties after a prolonged period of political strain and tension.
