New Delhi: India called on Bangladesh Thursday to “expedite” verification of nationality of illegal immigrants to ensure “smooth” repatriation. The comments come after Dhaka warned of appropriate action in the event of any “push in” of Bangladeshi citizens by Indian authorities.
“These comments must be seen in the context of the core issue of repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis from India. This requires cooperation from Bangladesh. Over 2862 cases of nationality verification are pending with Bangladesh, some for over five years,” Randhir Jaiswal, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a regular press briefing.
“Our policy is that all illegal foreign nationals staying in India must be repatriated as per our laws, procedure and established bilateral arrangements. We expect Bangladesh to expedite nationality verification so that repatriation of illegal immigrants can take place in a smooth manner.”
The issue of repatriation took a political turn recently when Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma commented on sending back alleged Bangladeshi nationals in the middle of the night after their capture by the Border Security Force.
Sarma, in an interview with ABP News last month, asserted that using the official route of repatriation via the Ministry of External Affairs causes delays in the return of illegal Bangladeshis living in India.
Bangladeshi foreign minister, Dr Khalilur Rahman, warned Tuesday that Dhaka will take “appropriate action” if the newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in West Bengal starts a policy of pushing in Bangladeshi nationals.
Dhaka has identified 2,479 such incidents of “pushing-in” people between May 2025 and January 2026, according to the Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo.
Of these individuals, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has claimed that at least 120 individuals are Indian nationals.
Dhaka’s reaction comes amid significant fears, that the new dispensation in West Bengal would likely lead to an increase of these actions, targeting certain communities in particular.
Bangladesh summoned India’s acting high commissioner in Dhaka, Pawan Kumar Badhe, on 30 April in protest against Sarma’s comments.
India says talks on water sharing ongoing
Jaiswal also reacted to Foreign Minister Rahman’s claims of discussing the issue of Teesta river water sharing with Beijing during his visit to China, saying that relevant mechanisms are continuing to meet at “regular intervals.”
“Bangladesh and India share 54 rivers. We have structured bilateral mechanisms to discuss all water related issues which continue to meet at regular intervals.”
China has offered to fund the dredging of the Teesta river, a project that India had offered to fund in 2024. However it was stalled following the change in government in Dhaka.
The new Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government has sought to stabilise ties with India. Ties cratered following the student-led demonstrations that led to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. Hasina fled Dhaka and remains in New Delhi.
She was replaced by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus who led an interim government till February 2026. Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party assumed in February following his party’s victory in the polls.
(Edited by Niyati Kothiyal)
Bangladeshi government, just take them man. We are not a rich country and we would appreciate if they come here through legal channels because that would help identify them if they overstay their welcome.
When they are here illegally it becomes a mess for our people and creates division amongst local communities.
Bangaldesh has ample experience dealing with illegals aka Rohingyas in its territory. It keeps going to international bodies seeking assistance for the same. It can understand this issue of illegal immigration much better than many nations. Hence , it should not drag its feet taking back its legal citizens if they have entered and resided in India illegally. There is no politics in this matter at all.