India urges Bangladesh to expedite verification of undocumented migrants

India on Thursday said it has urged Bangladesh to expedite the verification process for 2,360 undocumented Bangladeshi migrants residing in the country.

“We have a large number of Bangladeshi nationals here who are required to be deported. We have asked the Bangladeshi side to verify their nationality. A pending list of over 2,360 cases has been shared,” said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a press briefing. “People staying illegally in India — whether Bangladeshi or of any other nationality — will be dealt with as per the law,” he added.

Official sources confirmed to The Tribune that a formal communication has been sent to Dhaka, along with a list of 2,369 undocumented Bangladeshi migrants.

In recent weeks, India has stepped up the “push back” of undocumented migrants through its eastern border. On May 21, Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said the state government had directed authorities to coordinate efforts to identify undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants. Similarly, Rajasthan Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel stated on May 14 that around 1,000 suspected Bangladeshi nationals had been identified across the state.

Earlier, on May 10, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that the state would implement a “push back” mechanism to curb infiltration, moving away from prolonged legal proceedings.

The crackdown has gained momentum following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh and has intensified after the Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead.