New Delhi: A day after videos of several alleged Bangladeshi nationals queuing up at the Hakimpur outpost in Basirhat subdivision of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district were circulated on social media, Border Security Force (BSF) data revealed that 150 persons were checked there Tuesday, of which 60 were “pushed back” and 90 “handed over to the police”.
The West Bengal government’s latest policy to ‘Detect, Delete and Deport’ illegal immigrants and the setting up of district holding centres has prompted hundreds of undocumented individuals to gather at this border crossing in an attempt to return to Bangladesh.
On Tuesday evening, social media was replete with videos purportedly showing Bangladeshi nationals gathered around the checkpost in groups, with their luggage in tow. One particular video that went viral on social media platforms X and Facebook showed a woman with a cloth bag on her shoulder and a man carrying an infant while balancing his luggage. Visuals from Wednesday also showed several individuals gathered at the outpost.
In these videos, which ThePrint could not independently verify, the individuals claimed to have come from Bangladesh in search of livelihood and settled in several parts of the country, working as labourers and sanitation workers.
Following these viral videos, The Print accessed BSF data revealing that 150 persons had been checked by the BSF Tuesday alone. “Out of these 150, 60 have been pushed back through land and 90 were handed over to the local police,” said an officer, adding that the 60 who were “pushed back” were moved to the neighbouring country at night.
“If they have paperwork showing that they are from Bangladesh, we have been instructed to move them out of the territory,” the official said.
According to a government official, foreign nationals who enter the country illegally are handed over to the BSF, which further arranges transportation after contacting the border authorities of the neighbouring country, in this case the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Those who intend on “crossing over” to Bangladesh claiming they are “Bangladeshi nationals” first have to share all their details with the local police stationed at the checkpost.
“First, the individuals have to give details of where they are from in Bangladesh, and then share details of their stay here in India. After the first round, they are then expected to get their documents checked by the BSF and record their biometrics; if the biometrics show any connection with any criminal case in India or if the officials find anything suspicious, they hand over the individuals to the local police,” said the BSF official.
“If the biometrics match with any ongoing criminal case, they are handed over to the local police,” he said. According to the official, the high number of “illegal immigrants” queuing up at Hakimpur outpost is due to its geographic location. “This outpost is located in a border area that is yet to be fenced, a riverine belt that has little to no light, making it difficult for border forces to catch them,” said the official.
Queueing up of people in front of checkposts near the West Bengal-Bangladesh border is not a new phenomenon. The migrant movement peaked, however, after the West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed officials to find and deport illegal immigrants under the new policy. On May 23, the Home and Hill Affairs Department of the state government issued a notification with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding deportation.
“Enclosed please find the letter under reference regarding the procedure to be followed for deportation of Bangladeshi/Rohingyas apprehended for staying illegally in this country. In this connection, it is requested to take initiative/ appropriate action for setting up of Holding Centres in this district for apprehended foreigners as well as for released foreign prisoners awaiting deportation /repatriation in accordance with the MH guideline under the reference,” the notification read.
Referring to the viral videos, the West Bengal CM Tuesday said “Jaldi bhago, nahi toh jo karna hai sarkar karega (leave quickly, else the government will take necessary action).” At present there are three detention centres in the Darjeeling, Malda and Murshidabad districts, with at least 16 detainees.
While videos surfaced only Tuesday, another BSF official said that movement from West Bengal to Bangladesh had begun with since the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. At least 25,000 Bangladeshi nationals have crossed from India to Bangladesh since 4 November 2025. “There was a huge number of Bangladeshi nationals who were willing to move out when the SIR began; the numbers fell after the initial weeks and have again risen since Sunday,” the BSF official said.
(Edited by Nardeep Singh Dahiya)