India seeks Dhaka’s ‘swift’ cooperation on repatriation amid pushback tensions

India has called on Bangladesh to expedite pending nationality verification cases to facilitate the repatriation of what it describes as “illegal Bangladeshi immigrants”, amid growing tensions over alleged “pushback” incidents along the border.

Speaking at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs’ weekly briefing in New Delhi on Thursday, spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi expected Dhaka’s cooperation to ensure the return process proceeds through “established bilateral mechanisms”, Indian media reported.

“We expect Bangladesh to take appropriate action in this regard so that the repatriation of illegal foreign nationals present here can proceed smoothly and through established mechanisms,” Jaiswal was quoted in The Statesman.

Jaiswal said India’s policy requires any foreign national residing in the country illegally to be deported “in accordance with the law, procedures and established bilateral arrangements”.

His remarks came in response to questions regarding recent comments by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman on alleged “pushback” operations and deportations from India.

Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi have remained strained since the fall of the Awami League government during the student-led July Uprising in August 2024 and the installation of the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.

Since then, authorities in several Indian states have intensified drives against suspected undocumented migrants, with reports of detainees being labelled as Bangladeshis and pushed across the frontier.

Concerns over further “pushbacks” have increased following the BJP’s sweeping victory in the West Bengal assembly election.

Senior BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, have repeatedly warned of stronger action against alleged illegal immigrants.

The issue drew renewed attention after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, in an interview with ABP News on Apr 15, said he preferred strained India-Bangladesh relations because tighter border deployments reduced cross-border infiltration.

He also referred to Yunus while expressing hope that the political situation in Bangladesh would remain unchanged.

Bangladesh’s foreign ministry later summoned the acting Indian high commissioner in Dhaka over the remarks.

Responding to reporters on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman said Bangladesh had already lodged a “strong protest” after Sarma acknowledged carrying out pushback operations.

“We will take whatever measures are necessary regarding the matter,” he said.

Addressing the issue on Thursday, Jaiswal said India had already shared information with Bangladesh regarding suspected undocumented migrants for nationality verification.

According to him, more than 2,860 verification cases remain pending with Bangladesh, including several unresolved for over five years.

On another issue, Jaiswal said India and Bangladesh continued discussions on water-sharing through existing bilateral mechanisms, noting that the two neighbours share 54 common rivers.