India has deported nearly 5,000 Bangladeshi nationals since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in West Bengal last month, according to figures released by state authorities.
The BJP secured a decisive victory in the eastern border state after campaigning on a pledge to identify and remove undocumented migrants. Following the election, the new administration established detention centres across West Bengal to house undocumented Bangladeshi migrants and Rohingya refugees pending deportation.
Speaking in Kolkata on Sunday, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said 4,800 Bangladeshi nationals had already been deported under the state’s ongoing campaign.
“We have started the process of deporting Bangladeshi infiltrators who do not fall under the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act,” Adhikari said, adding that detention facilities had been set up in all districts in May.
He further stated that 836 individuals remain in holding centres and are expected to be deported in the coming weeks.
The deportation drive has reignited debate over immigration and citizenship in West Bengal, a state that shares a long and porous border with Bangladesh. Critics have accused the BJP of targeting Muslim communities through its rhetoric and immigration policies, while rights groups have previously raised concerns over alleged deportations conducted without adequate legal procedures.
The campaign comes amid evolving relations between India and Bangladesh following political changes in Dhaka in 2024 that led to the departure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. While ties between the two neighbours have shown signs of improvement under Bangladesh’s newly elected government, border management and migration remain sensitive issues. Senior border security officials from both countries are scheduled to meet in New Delhi this week to discuss bilateral concerns.