Exodus of ‘illegal Bangladeshis’ as Bengal creates detention centres:People flee to the border to evade arrest amid controversial govt move

Scores of suspected illegal Bangladeshi immigrants flee to the Hakimpur border crossing after the Bengal government set up two detention centres, triggering panic among some people believed to be illegal settlers. The Suvendu Adhikari-led government plans to house them in these centres temporarily before the official deportation process starts for individuals without valid documents or proof of Indian citizenship as part of its “detect, delete and deport” policy. The large exodus of people fleeing to the border has caused fresh political controversy. Long queues seen near Hakimpur border Days after Chief Minister Adhikari announced the launch of holding centres in different districts, long queues were seen near the Hakimpur border checkpost in Swarupnagar area of North 24 Parganas district on Tuesday. Locals claimed Bangladeshi nationals living illegally in India were preparing to return to Bangladesh fearing possible detention and deportation. Deportation fears spread among suspected immigrants Some people standing in the queue allegedly admitted they had entered India illegally through agents and had been working in shops, as domestic workers, and in other informal jobs. “The government will no longer allow us to stay here. What can we do?” one person was heard saying. Government begins detect, delete, deport policy The state government had issued a notification on May 23 laying down procedures for identifying, detaining, and deporting suspected Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants. Under the guidelines, holding centres are being established in districts to house suspected illegal immigrants and released foreign prisoners awaiting deportation. Two holding centres have already been set up in Malda and Murshidabad, both bordering Bangladesh. Officials said nine individuals identified as Bangladeshi nationals, including three women and six minors, have been shifted to the Malda facility. BJP government intensifies anti-infiltration campaign Sources said three suspected Bangladeshi nationals picked up from Bhagabangola and Lalgola areas had already been shifted to one such centre. Officials stated that inquiries regarding identity verification and nationality are currently underway. According to the government order, after identification, suspected immigrants will undergo an inquiry process during which their details will be sent to authorities in Bangladesh or Myanmar for verification. If no confirmation is received within 30 days, the Foreigners’ Registration Officer may initiate deportation proceedings. Once nationality is confirmed, biometrics will be collected and then handed over to the BSF or Coast Guard authorities for deportation. Police strengthen monitoring at holding centres Police and administrative officials had inspected several designated buildings before they were converted into holding centres. CCTV installation, deployment of police personnel and arrangements for food and security are underway in multiple districts. The BJP government has maintained that the move follows Union government directives issued earlier this month and is part of its broader campaign promise to curb illegal immigration and strengthen border security in Bengal. Assam model shapes migrant detention discussions Assam’s detention and holding centre framework is increasingly being viewed as a model in ongoing discussions on migrant identification and deportation mechanisms in other states. The state established several detention facilities after the NRC exercise and Foreigners Tribunal proceedings to accommodate individuals declared as foreign nationals. Over time, centres in districts such as Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Silchar, and Tezpur became key parts of Assam’s anti-infiltration system. Matia centre draws nationwide administrative attention Among them, the Matia holding centre in Goalpara gained nationwide attention due to its massive scale and extensive security arrangements. Images and reports from Assam highlighted features like towering boundary walls, watchtowers, biometric registration systems, and strict security deployment, elements now being cited in administrative and policy-level conversations in other parts of the country. (GFX by Vivek Ray) ​