Bengal CM Suvendu urges swift deportation of illegal Bangladeshis gathered at Hakimpur border point

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday called for swift action to deport alleged illegal Bangladeshi nationals gathered at the Hakimpur border checkpoint in North 24 Parganas district’s Basirhat subdivision.

Speaking after an administrative meeting in Kalyani attended by officials from Nadia, Hooghly, and North 24 Parganas districts, Adhikari claimed that a large number of people assembled at the border point were willing to return to Bangladesh.

“Jaldi jaldi bhago nahi toh jo karna hai sarkar karega (Leave quickly, otherwise the government will take necessary action),” he said while directing officials to expedite deportation procedures.

He stated that the government does not intend to keep such individuals in detention or spend public funds on their upkeep, adding that the issue was impacting local resources and citizens in West Bengal.

Adhikari further said that legal provisions exist but were not effectively implemented in the past, alleging that political considerations had previously influenced enforcement. He stressed that the current administration would prioritise strict implementation of immigration laws.

The state government has established holding centres across districts to accommodate “apprehended foreigners” and “released foreign prisoners” until deportation formalities are completed.

Officials said the directive aligns with existing central guidelines, though it comes shortly after Adhikari announced a stricter anti-infiltration approach, including a “detect, delete and deport” policy aimed at identifying and pushing back illegal entrants across the border.