BSF Faces Surge of Bangladeshi Nationals Returning Home Amid West Bengal Voter Roll Verification
Long queues of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals are forming at West Bengal border posts, seeking to return home as the state’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls intensifies document verification. Border Security Force personnel report processing 150-200 people daily, with over 1,200 individuals returning to Bangladesh in the past six days alone.
Key Takeaways
- Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls triggers reverse migration at Bengal border
- BSF detains 150-200 people daily, verifies documents before pushback
- Many admit to obtaining fake Aadhaar, ration cards through middlemen
- Local police stations overwhelmed, stop taking custody due to space constraints
Electoral Roll Cleanup Drives Exodus
The Hakimpur BSF border outpost in North 24 Parganas has become an informal departure point for Bangladeshis who lived illegally in West Bengal for years. Security officials and locals report the reverse migration surge began November 4, coinciding with the SIR exercise launch.
Many in queues admit they procured Indian documents illegally. “If they check old papers, we cannot show anything. Better to leave before they ask questions,” said one Bangladeshi national who lived in Kolkata for eight years.
Document Verification Creates Backlog
BSF’s mandatory verification process involves sending biometric details to district authorities and state police, causing 2-3 day delays. People wait outside on plastic sheets or under halted trucks while BSF provides meals to those inside the camp.
Local police stations are overwhelmed. “We had 95 detainees in two days. No station has the space or facilities to hold so many,” an officer told PTI.
Costly Illegal Stay
Migrants reveal paying between ₹5,000-₹7,000 to enter West Bengal, with some spending significantly more on documents. “I paid nearly ₹20,000 to get documents,” said 29-year-old Manirul Sheikh, who worked in Dhulagori garment units.
As the situation continues, a BSF jawan observed: “They came in the dark, now they leave in daylight, through the proper channel. That is the difference.”
