Voluntary return of undocumented migrants at Bangladesh border increased after government crackdown, say officials

Increase in voluntary return of undocumented Bangladeshis due to government crackdown on illegal foreigners in India since December 2024.

The voluntary return of undocumented Bangladeshis is showing an increase after the government in December 2024 began a crackdown against foreigners staying illegally in India, following political changes in the neighbouring country, a source in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.

Against 337 undocumented Bangladeshis without visas and passports who were apprehended while crossing the eastern border from January to July 2024, those apprehended in the subsequent months, from August 2024 till March 21 this year, stood at 906. Out of this, 411 exits had been recorded in the past three months, data accessed by The Hindu shows.

Also read: Two suspected irregular migrants from Bangladesh arrested at Angamaly in Kerala

In December 2024, the MHA wrote to all States to identify and deport undocumented Bangladeshi migrants. The Delhi Police, for instance, commenced a two-month drive in January to identify Bangladeshis living illegally in the country. Such drives were also conducted in Rajasthan, Telangana, and Odisha, among other States.

In the past 13 months, as many as 2,355 undocumented Bangladeshi nationals were also apprehended as they were trying to enter the country. There were 153 people from other nationalities, including Myanmar, who were apprehended along the Bangladesh border during the same period. 

A senior government official said that the agencies maintained a record of all apprehensions at the border, along with the entry and exit of undocumented Indians.

From January 1, 2024 to March 21, 2025, 533 Indians were apprehended at the Bangladesh border — 237 while entering the country, and 296 while they were exiting India.