Continued attempts by Indian authorities to push people into Bangladesh could further strain Dhaka-Delhi relations at a time when both countries have significant stakes in maintaining stable ties, according to international relations experts.
They say political rhetoric surrounding state elections in Assam and West Bengal has increasingly translated into action, even as both countries seek to rebuild relations that deteriorated following the fall of the Awami League government in 2024.
The bilateral agenda remains crowded, they said, noting that the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement remains unresolved, while the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty expires in December and will require political engagement for its renewal.
Trade restrictions imposed by both sides during the interim government continue to affect businesses. Although Bangladesh resumed issuing all categories of visas after the BNP government took office in February this year, India continues to issue visas on a limited scale.
Against this backdrop, the issue of alleged push-ins and irregular migration has emerged as another source of tension.
According to the Border Guard Bangladesh, the Indian Border Security Force has intensified efforts to push people into Bangladesh in recent weeks.
Since early June, there have been around 20 push-in attempts involving several hundred people along different stretches of the border. In some cases, women and children were left stranded in no-man’s land.
“Push-ins and border killings are extrajudicial acts that violate both domestic and international law,” said Dr CR Abrar, former professor of international relations at Dhaka University.
“Leaving people stranded in no-man’s land creates a humanitarian crisis. This is simply unacceptable.”
Questions have also been raised about the accuracy of India’s identification process.
According to BGB data, at least 2,303 people were pushed into Bangladesh between May 2025 and January this year. Among them were 126 Indian nationals and 38 Myanmar nationals.
“This demonstrates how flawed and arbitrary the process can be when authorities push back people they assume to be Bangladeshi,” CR Abrar said.
The issue gained political prominence after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said in an interview on April 15 that more than 1,400 people had been pushed back this year following a Supreme Court judgment. Days later, he posted on X that 20 undocumented Bangladeshi migrants had been apprehended and sent back.
“Assam will fight. Pushback will continue,” he wrote.
In a sharp reaction on April 30, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner Pawan Badhe and described Sarma’s comments as “disparaging”.
The same day, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) informed Bangladesh that it had sent 1,137 diplomatic notes and 456 reminders since September 2020 regarding 2,868 suspected illegal Bangladeshi migrants awaiting nationality verification, but had received no “actionable response”.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has repeatedly urged Bangladesh to expedite nationality verification to facilitate repatriation. Bangladesh, however, disputes India’s characterisation of the process.
In a letter sent to the MEA on May 27, Dhaka rejected the allegation that it had failed to respond. Foreign ministry officials said Bangladesh missions in India had issued 634 travel permits to verified Bangladeshi nationals as of May 15 this year.
Another 361 individuals have been confirmed as Bangladeshi citizens but remain subject to ongoing legal proceedings in India, preventing their return.
Officials also pointed to significant gaps in the information provided by India. According to the foreign ministry, 879 names were submitted without addresses or other identifying details, making verification impossible. At least 358 names were duplicated, while 252 cases remain under review.
Bangladesh has also complained about difficulties in obtaining consular access to detainees.
According to a foreign ministry official, “Bangladesh missions requested access to 262 cases. In some instances, approvals came from the MEA but not from the relevant state authorities.”
Meanwhile, Dhaka has asked New Delhi to provide an updated list with complete identifying information to facilitate verification and repatriation through existing bilateral mechanisms.
The issues are expected to feature prominently at the BGB-BSF director general-level talks in New Delhi, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said.
“Our BGB personnel remain on high alert. Any attempt at illegal push-ins or unlawful crossings will be firmly resisted,” he told reporters yesterday.
Analysts argue that migration across the 4,096-kilometre Bangladesh-India border is a longstanding reality that cannot be addressed through unilateral actions.
Contacted by The Daily Star, Sreeradha Datta, professor of International Affairs at OP Jindal Global University in India, said migration occurs because there is demand for labour in India.
“People from Bangladesh go to India because there is a demand for workers. It is important to acknowledge this reality and create appropriate arrangements.”
Abrar echoed the view, noting that undocumented migration would not occur without employers willing to hire such workers.
He also pointed out that many Indian nationals work in Bangladesh, and that there are allegations some lack proper documentation.
“Both sides need to recognise these realities and engage in meaningful dialogue.”
One possible solution, Abrar suggested, is a formal work permit system for foreign workers with verified employers.
He also argued that domestic politics in India has contributed to the problem, citing the Citizenship Amendment Act and what he described as the BJP’s tendency to frame Muslim identity as a political issue.
“India often speaks of a people-centric relationship. But if push-ins and border killings continue, improving relations will become increasingly difficult.”
Datta stressed that both countries should make full use of existing bilateral mechanisms and expedite verification and repatriation procedures.
“The stakes in the India-Bangladesh relationship are extremely high,” she said, adding, “Neither country can afford to take the relationship lightly or allow politics to undermine long-term interests.”