Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed calls for restraint, orders border vigilance; Dhaka reaffirms ‘Bangladesh First’ policy amid political shifts in West Bengal and Assam
Dhaka: Amid political changes in neighbouring Indian states, Salahuddin Ahmed on Wednesday expressed hope that no citizens would be forcibly returned across the border. “I hope no such incident will happen,” he said, referring to concerns over possible “pushback” cases following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s recent electoral victories.
At the same time, Ahmed confirmed that the Border Guard Bangladesh has been directed to maintain heightened vigilance along the international boundary. His remarks come against the backdrop of rising debate around illegal immigration during the election campaign.
Earlier, Khalilur Rahman had indicated that Dhaka would respond firmly if any “push-in” attempts were reported during the political transition in West Bengal. These developments follow the BJP’s sweeping win in West Bengal and its third consecutive term in Assam.
During the campaign, the BJP repeatedly accused the government led by Mamata Banerjee of allowing undocumented migration from Bangladesh, a charge the state leadership consistently rejected.
Clarifying the terminology, officials note that “pushback” refers to the forced return of suspected migrants, while receiving countries often describe such actions as “push-ins.” In recent years, such disputes have largely centred on border areas in India’s northeast.
Meanwhile, Junior Foreign Minister Shama Obaed Islam emphasised continuity in Dhaka’s approach. “Our foreign policy is guided by national interest. We follow a ‘Bangladesh First’ policy, regardless of political changes elsewhere,” she said.
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