India arrests Bangladeshis crossing borders illegally

NEW DELHI: Authorities in India reported that they have arrested more than a dozen Bangladesh nationals attempting to cross the border to escape political turmoil in their home country.

According to Indian Border Security Forces (BSF), eleven Bangladeshis were detained for trying to enter West Bengal, while hundreds more are reportedly awaiting permission to cross.

Read more: Student protests lead to judicial shake-up in Bangladesh

BSF Deputy Inspector General Amit Kumar Tyagi noted that several hundred Bangladeshis remain in the no-man’s land near the border, trying to enter India.

Similarly, the Chief Minister of Indian state of Assam announced on social media platform X that the state has expelled four Bangladeshi nationals.

The situation follows the abrupt resignation of Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on August 5, ending her 15-year tenure.

India has been wary of the political changes in Bangladesh, monitoring the situation closely. The Indian government remained mostly silent on the weeks-long violent protests that shook Bangladesh. It enjoyed a tense and complex relationship with Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina’s government enjoyed a strong, friendly relationship with China, something the Indian government looked on with a critical eye.

Read more: Bangladesh: What does Sheikh Hasina’s ouster mean for India?

Despite a small land size, Bangladesh has a population of 170 million. The protests has led to a political crisis for the country, with economy in particular impacted.

The political instability also raised concerns for the country’s neighbours, as Bangladesh houses almost a million Rohingya refugees.