India Seeks Bangladesh’s Cooperation to Repatriate Illegal Immigrants: MEA

NEW DELHI: India on Thursday called on Bangladesh to cooperate in the repatriation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals staying in the country, stressing the need for faster nationality verification to complete the deportation process smoothly.
Addressing a media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said more than 2,800 cases related to nationality confirmation are still awaiting clearance from the Bangladeshi side, with several applications pending for years.
He stated that India follows a clear policy under which all illegal foreign nationals residing in the country are sent back in accordance with domestic laws and existing bilateral arrangements. According to the MEA, cooperation from Dhaka remains essential for the successful implementation of the repatriation process.
India Seeks Faster Verification Process
The MEA revealed that around 2,862 nationality verification requests submitted to Bangladesh are yet to receive approval. Officials said delays in confirmation have slowed down the return of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals.
Jaiswal emphasized that timely verification by Bangladeshi authorities would help both countries handle the matter efficiently and in an orderly manner.
Bangladesh’s Remarks Trigger Response
India’s comments came after Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Khalilur Rahman recently reacted to reports of alleged “push-in” incidents along the border. Rahman had warned that Dhaka would respond appropriately if such incidents were confirmed.
Responding to those remarks, the MEA said the issue should be viewed in the broader context of the repatriation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals from India. Officials maintained that cooperation between the two neighbours is necessary to address the matter constructively.
India Also Reacts to Teesta River Discussions
During the briefing, the MEA also addressed questions regarding possible Chinese involvement in Bangladesh’s proposed Teesta River project after reports emerged during Rahman’s visit to China.
Jaiswal noted that India and Bangladesh share 54 rivers and already have established bilateral mechanisms to discuss water-sharing and river management issues regularly.
Bangladesh media reports stated that Dhaka had sought support from China for the Teesta river development initiative, a move being closely watched in the region.