The illegal migration of Bangladeshis into India is a problem of long-standing, dating back in time to 53 years ago. During the Bangladesh war in 1971, at least 10 million Bangladeshis (80 per cent of whom were Hindus) crossed into India illegally to seek refuge from widespread genocide and rape. In 2004, according to a thumb rule, for each illegal Bangladeshi immigrant caught, four illegally entered the country. In 2004, the government of India stated that 12 million illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators were living in India and West Bengal had the most with 5.7 million Bangladeshis. More recently, the government has put the figure at around 20 million. According to the 2001 census, 3,084,826 people in India came from Bangladesh.
The problem of Bangladeshi illegal migration is rooted in persecution of Hindu minorities in that country as also over population and limited means of livelihood there. In addition to these illegal migrant pushing factors, there have been pulling factors too in operation. These are the nefarious vested interests of some politicians in power in India who used them as vote banks after turning a Nelson’s eye to the entry and settlement of illegal migrants in India.
The causes of illegal migration of persons from Bangladesh are, therefore, prevalent inside both Bangladesh and India, unfortunately. In recent months this problem has hogged headlines and has been highlighted due to the political turmoil in Bangladesh—the deposition and exile of the PM Sheikh Hasina and the installation of an illegitimate government head in the form of Muhammad Yunus in August, 2024.
Meanwhile, in Bharat the nationalistic perspective and political will of the existing government counts a lot and the same is conspicuous by its presence today. And BSF is taking commendable action to check illegal migrants.
The deportation process needs to gather momentum and pace. By any count, we have more than 20 million Bangladeshi illegal migrants staying in various pockets across India and this is a gigantic figure. We have to identify these migrants in larger numbers and take deportation action.
More important thing to do is to perform diplomatic maneuvering for reversing the recent regime change in Bangladesh. This can be done through strategic steps for influencing the Bangladesh military brass to align it with Indian interests and by covert action to galvanize Awami League, the pro India political outfit and its popular supporters into demonstrative action. Some news is already trickling about Sheikh Hasina having digitally addressed her domestic political audience spread across 370 constituencies. There are also unconfirmed reports of serious rifts in the top echelons of Bangladesh army and of Muhammad Yunus having gone to Switzerland in apprehension of an impending domestic crisis escalating into another coup situation the likes of which have occurred multiple times in Bangladesh’s history.
But Bangladesh is culturally larger Bharat’s territory which has been separated from its mother nation by machinations of history. We can take strategic steps to reverse the unfortunate outcome of these intrigues and pave the way for restoration of integrated Bharat. With the change of political guard in USA, such steps will be easier taken now.
An important point in the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh is the governance apparatus in the West Bengal and Assam states of India. While the government of Assam headed by Himanta Biswa Sarma is handling the issue well, the actions of government of West Bengal leave much to be desired. The central government would have done well earlier to impose Governor’s rule against situations of law-and-order failure in this state and this action can be considered even now.
Our government also needs to put international pressure on Bangladesh for safety and security of Hindu population there and also to take measures for preventing exodus of illegal migrants of any religion from there. The international community including the UN should force appropriate action by Bangladesh government by imposing suitable sanctions—economic or otherwise.
Bangladesh is a lost child of Ma Bharti and needs to return to its mother’s lap. This can happen only through cultural reintegration in the present circumstances, efforts for which must accompany the steps suggested above. The present world is ideologically divided and peace prevails in its pockets only due to fear of reprisals by more powerful enemies who may be communities or states. In this situation, it is necessary to nip the evil in the bud before it becomes festering wound. Illegal migration from Bangladesh puts our country to grave prejudice economically, culturally and overall politically which includes danger to our security and integrity. Hence the urgent necessity of the steps as suggested above is underlined.
