What W Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari said about illegal migrants that suspected Bangladeshi nationals began gathering at checkposts?
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated on Tuesday that strict action would be taken against illegal Bangladeshi migrants residing in West Bengal. He asserted that such individuals would be identified and repatriated as soon as possible.
Speaking at a public event, Adhikari declared that illegal migrants would not be permitted to reside in the state and urged officials to hand them over to the police and the Border Security Force (BSF) for repatriation. He also claimed that Bangladesh is prepared to take back its verified citizens.
His remarks came amidst reports stating that, on Tuesday morning, more than 100 suspected foreign nationals had gathered at the Hakimpur checkpost in the North 24 Parganas district. According to sources, many of them were allegedly residing illegally in various parts of West Bengal and were now attempting to return to Bangladesh. Similarly, there are reports of Bangladeshi nationals gathering at checkposts in other districts along with their belongings as they prepare to leave for their country.
3 Bangladeshi nationals sent to a holding center
In the Murshidabad district, three Bangladeshi nationals—arrested on charges of allegedly entering India illegally—have been sent to a holding center; this marks the first such instance in the state.
The West Bengal government recently directed all districts to establish temporary holding centers for suspected foreign nationals under the "Detect, Delete, and Deport" policy. These centers will house detainees for up to 30 days while officials verify their identities, citizenship status, and documentation. During this period, biometric data will also be collected and uploaded to a central database.
Officials stated that these measures are being implemented under the Immigration and Foreigners Act, 2025, and in accordance with the Central Government's guidelines regarding the handling of illegal migrants and Rohingyas.