NEW DELHI: India on Thursday stated that Bangladesh's comments on alleged "pushback" incidents should be understood in the context of the repatriation of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, while urging Dhaka to speed up pending nationality verification cases.
Responding to remarks made by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman following the BJP's victory in the West Bengal assembly elections, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India expects cooperation from Bangladesh on this issue.
"We have seen comments of this nature being made in the last several days. These comments must be seen in the context of the core issue of the repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis from India. This obviously requires cooperation from Bangladesh," Jaiswal said.
He added that more than 2,860 cases of nationality verification are pending with Bangladesh, with several awaiting clearance for over five years. "We expect that Bangladesh will expedite nationality verification so that the repatriation of illegal immigrants can take place in a smooth manner," he said.
The remarks came after Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed expressed hope that people would not be "pushed" into Bangladesh after the BJP's victory in assembly elections in bordering Indian states. "I hope no such incident (push backs) will happen," Ahmed told reporters on Wednesday when asked if he feared a rise in cases involving people suspected to be illegal immigrants being sent across the border from India. He, however, said the Border Guard Bangladesh had been asked to "remain alert" along the frontier.
Ahmed's comments followed remarks by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, who was quoted on the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party's official Facebook page as saying Bangladesh would take action if "push-in" incidents occurred following the political change in West Bengal.
The latest remarks by the MEA come days after the BJP swept the West Bengal assembly polls, where the party had campaigned strongly on the issue of alleged illegal immigration from Bangladesh, accusing the Trinamool Congress of enabling infiltration in the state, a charge rejected by the Mamata Banerjee-led government.
Background of the Issue
India and Bangladesh share a long border, and the issue of illegal immigration has been a contentious topic in bilateral relations. India has repeatedly raised concerns about the influx of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, while Bangladesh has denied the existence of such immigrants. The recent political developments in West Bengal have brought this issue to the forefront once again.
Pending Verification Cases
The Indian government has highlighted that over 2,860 nationality verification cases are pending with Bangladesh. Many of these cases have been awaiting clearance for more than five years, causing delays in the repatriation process. India expects Bangladesh to expedite these verifications to ensure a smooth repatriation process.
In response to Bangladesh's concerns about pushbacks, India reiterated that the repatriation is conducted in a lawful and humane manner. The Indian government maintains that it follows established protocols and international norms while dealing with illegal immigrants.
Both countries have agreed to work together to address the issue through diplomatic channels. The MEA spokesperson emphasized that cooperation from Bangladesh is essential to resolve the matter effectively.
