MEA says over 2,800 nationality verification requests remain pending as the repatriation issue draws renewed attention after Assam and West Bengal polls
New Delhi: Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday called on Bangladesh to accelerate the verification of suspected illegal immigrants staying in India, stressing that timely cooperation is essential for repatriation under existing bilateral arrangements.
Addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said more than 2,862 nationality verification cases involving Bangladeshi nationals are currently pending with Dhaka, with some cases awaiting response for over five years.
“These comments must be seen in the context of the core issue of repatriation of illegal Bangladeshis from India. This requires cooperation from Bangladesh,” Jaiswal said. He added that India expects the verification process to be expedited to ensure smoother deportation procedures in accordance with the law.
The remarks came in response to recent comments made by Khalilur Rahman after the BJP’s electoral victories in Assam and West Bengal. Rahman had reacted to reports of alleged “push-ins” by Indian border authorities and stated that Bangladesh would take necessary steps if such incidents continued.
The issue has also entered political discourse in Bangladesh, with commentator Altaf Parvez claiming the BJP’s victories had intensified “saffron pressure” along the India-Bangladesh border.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma recently stated that 20 foreign nationals were apprehended in Assam and pushed back to Bangladesh on April 26.
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