A growing number of suspected Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in India are voluntarily approaching authorities near the Hakimpur border checkpost in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, seeking to return to Bangladesh. Security agencies are conducting biometric verification and document checks before transferring individuals to designated holding centres, as both India and Bangladesh continue to monitor developments along the frontier.

According to officials familiar with the process, around 200 to 300 people are reporting at the verification centre every day. Instead of being allowed to cross immediately, they are being screened and their identities recorded in accordance with procedures laid down by authorities. Many among them are believed to have entered India years ago and are now uncertain about their future amid heightened scrutiny over undocumented migration.

Officials said several individuals possess Indian identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, but do not have valid Bangladeshi papers. This has complicated the repatriation process and raised concerns over nationality verification.

A Border Security Force (BSF) official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said authorities are witnessing an unusual situation where people are coming forward voluntarily rather than being identified through search operations. According to the official, long queues have become a common sight at the border verification point, and the process often continues throughout the day.

Holding Centres Set Up

Following directives issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, 11 holding centres have been established across West Bengal. One such facility in Tetulia, located in North 24 Parganas district, has been created by converting a hotel into a temporary shelter.

State government sources said fewer than 1,000 people are currently housed in these centres. Authorities are providing food, healthcare and basic facilities for women and children while the verification process continues.

Rights groups and local organisations have claimed that many of those reporting for verification originally came from districts in Bangladesh and had settled in different parts of India over the years.

Fear and Uncertainty Among Migrants

Several individuals waiting near the border have expressed concerns about their future. Some say they have spent decades in India and have families and livelihoods here but lack documentation from Bangladesh.

One migrant, who claimed to have lived in Mumbai for over two decades, said he feared becoming stateless if neither country accepted him. Another individual, who said he had spent years in Delhi after entering India through Murshidabad, expressed similar concerns over his family's future.

Border Tensions Continue

The developments come amid renewed tensions between the Border Security Force and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Bangladeshi authorities have accused Indian forces of attempting to push undocumented migrants across the border, allegations that have heightened sensitivities on both sides.

According to Bangladeshi officials, border patrols have been intensified and additional personnel deployed after reports of detentions involving suspected illegal migrants. Political leaders in Bangladesh have also cautioned that unilateral attempts to transfer people without proper procedures could strain bilateral relations.

Meanwhile, cases involving individuals claiming Bangladeshi citizenship but lacking documentary proof have created further complications. Some migrants allege they have been turned back despite asserting that they belong to Bangladesh.

Officials from both countries are expected to continue consultations and verification efforts to address the issue in accordance with legal and diplomatic frameworks. The situation remains sensitive, with authorities focusing on identity confirmation and border management to avoid further escalation.