DHAKA: Armed stand-offs have erupted along the India-Bangladesh border as Dhaka accused New Delhi of unilaterally pushing undocumented migrants across the frontier in violation of agreed repatriation procedures.
Bangladesh says Indian security forces have increasingly escorted or forced people suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals across the border without prior verification or coordination with Dhaka, bypassing established diplomatic mechanisms designed to confirm nationality before repatriation.
According to Bangladeshi authorities, Indian security forces have increasingly been escorting or forcing individuals suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals across the frontier without prior verification or coordination with Dhaka. Bangladesh says such actions disregard agreed diplomatic mechanisms designed to confirm nationality before any repatriation takes place.
In response, Bangladeshi border guards have intensified patrols and intercepted several groups attempting to enter the country after allegedly being pushed across from India.
Officials maintain that Bangladesh will only accept individuals whose nationality has been verified through formal bilateral channels.
One of the latest incidents occurred near the border village of Durgapur, where Bangladeshi security personnel detained a man, three women and a child after local fishermen spotted them near the frontier before dawn. Residents said the group had apparently crossed from India’s West Bengal state under cover of darkness.
The individuals remained in the buffer zone separating the two countries for nearly 24 hours while border officials from both sides discussed their status. Bangladeshi border personnel alleged that Indian forces had directed the group towards Bangladeshi territory, despite none of them carrying documents proving their nationality.
Local resident Motiar Rahman, who witnessed the incident, said the group was found inside Bangladeshi territory near a river forming part of the international boundary. The episode drew large crowds from nearby villages and highlighted growing unease among border communities over the recurring confrontations.
Dhaka argues that India’s approach places an unfair burden on Bangladesh and creates humanitarian as well as security concerns by leaving vulnerable people stranded in buffer zones without a clear legal status.
Bangladeshi officials have reiterated that any return of migrants must be conducted in accordance with internationally recognised procedures and bilateral agreements, rather than through unilateral action.
India has stepped up efforts in recent months to identify and remove people it believes are residing in the country illegally, including individuals suspected of being Bangladeshi nationals.
However, Bangladesh maintains that nationality cannot be determined solely on suspicion or possession of documents without proper verification between the two governments.
