Kolkata: Bangladesh and India share a friendly bond dating back over a long period, but recently, the socio-political scenario between the two nations has been strained due to the illegal immigration of people from Bangladesh to India in search of better jobs and lifestyles. West Bengal shares cultural and linguistic ties with Bangladesh, and being the closest state geographically, it is considered one of the largest entry points for Bangladeshi immigrants. Following a historic political shift in West Bengal’s government, the newly elected administration is expediting efforts to uncover the root causes of this infiltration and has found important clues.
The long-standing problem of unlawful entries by Bangladeshis into India has been identified by the new government of Bengal. Fearing crackdown actions against immigrants, many already-settled Bangladeshis in India are voluntarily returning to their country in large numbers. Some are even revealing the process of how they accessed the Indian borders. Some people penetrated through waterways, while others utilized middlemen. One individual informed authorities that these middlemen possess a wide network; once they observe a patrolling gap by border personnel, they quickly help people cross between the nations within ten minutes. Many claimed that workers from the previous government, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), helped these gatecrashers secure a legal identity in India. Shockingly, cash funds from various government schemes dedicated solely to Indian citizens were also allegedly being distributed among the immigrants.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that illegal Bangladeshi migrants should neither be sheltered nor produced in court, and should instead be directly handed over to the BSF at the border. The BJP government is also identifying illegal migrants receiving benefits from government schemes and is taking measures to discontinue this flow of funds. Borders have recently seen heavy security and the deployment of forces, majorly to investigate and prevent the migration process. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, referring to those returning willingly, said, “Since the infiltrators were returning on their own, the government would not take any legal action against them.” The statements from various immigrants reveal a deeper system that has been consistently hammering the Indian security apparatus over the years.
A carpenter from Bangladesh said that he paid 7,000 to 8,000 rupees to middlemen who kept an eye on the movements of BSF forces patrolling the border, sending flocks of people into the country whenever there was an interval in surveillance. Another illegal Bangladeshi migrant revealed that procuring an Indian identity was arranged for 2,000 to 3,000 rupees.
Armed with several testimonies, the government is also securing the borders with heavy fencing, promising that the borders will soon be fully reinforced, leaving no room for loopholes.
It is alleged that Bangladeshi trespassers also participate in the voting process during major elections, indicating a massive vulnerability for the nation. In addition, Bangladeshis were purpotedly given priority spots in government schemes instead of authentic Indian candidates in cash-fund-based programs, such as the “Lakshmir Bhandar” scheme. It is believed that the new government will likely open eyes that were previously shut and resolve this problem soon.
-
-
-
-
