THE recent spate of India’s illegal cross-border push-in attempts, despite Dhaka’s assurances of cooperation through due process, appears to be Delhi’s blatant disregard for the international law, bilateral agreements and the good neighbourly spirit. While India has continued such unneighbourly behaviour since the latter half of 2024 and pushed at least 2,463 people into Bangladesh, the illegal attempts have increased in the past few days after Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in West Bengal. The Border Guard Bangladesh foiled more than a dozen push-in attempts of the Indian guards in two days alone. Dozens have, meanwhile, reportedly remained stranded in no man’s land. Those pushed into Bangladesh in the past included Indians, mostly Muslims, and Rohingyas, many of whom were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in India. While the weaponisation and proliferation of anti-Muslim and anti-Bangladesh narratives by the BJP are evident in the intensified push-in attempts, what is disturbing is the failure of Delhi to comply with the law.
Equally disturbing is the claim that India’s external affairs ministry made on June 5 that New Delhi is following due process in repatriation from India and also urging Dhaka to expedite pending nationality verification requests. Bangladesh’s home minister has, meanwhile, said that India has not sent any list for verification. The reality on the ground, with dozens of push-in attempts by the Border Security Force, amply suggests that India is not following any due process. That India is not abiding by the international law and bilateral agreements is also evident from a directive that the Calcutta High Court issued in September 2025. The directive, which ordered India’s home ministry to repatriate six Indians, including a pregnant woman, who had been pushed into Bangladesh in August that year, declared the forcible deportation of people into Bangladesh to be ‘illegal.’ Bangladesh has repeatedly offered a principled approach, stating that if any Bangladeshis are proven to be residing illegally in India, Dhaka is prepared to take them back through proper legal procedure. India’s decision to continue its illegal push-in strategy not only puts dozens in peril but also strains bilateral relations.
The 57th four-day talks between the directors general of both border guards, scheduled for June 8–11 in New Delhi, offer an opportunity for Dhaka to raise the issue forcefully and for New Delhi to adopt a principled approach. Dhaka should also voice its concern at regional platforms, the United Nations and international rights forums to hold India accountable.
