Deportation Dilemma: Diplomatic Roadblocks Delay Repatriation Of Illegal Bangladeshi Nationals, Only 1 In 5 Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants Sent Back Amid Diplomatic Deadlock

Mumbai: Despite a surge in arrests, India’s fight against illegal Bangladeshi infiltration is hitting a dead end literally at the border, Indian security and immigration authorities continue to face mounting challenges in deporting Bangladeshi nationals who enter the country unlawfully. Even after arrests and legal convictions, the repatriation process remains slow, uncertain, and fraught with diplomatic and procedural complications.

Highly placed sources in the Crime Branch, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that several hundred Bangladeshi nationals were arrested over the past year for illegal stay, use of forged Indian identity documents, and links to organised crime. Authorities have taken steps to limit their ability to stay and move freely within the country. Yet, once behind bars, their journey back home hits a diplomatic wall.

Officials admit that while arrests and case registrations have increased, deportation is far from straightforward. A major roadblock is the refusal of the host country Bangladesh to acknowledge and accept these individuals as its citizens. “Even after arrest and court convictions, deportation gets stuck at the verification stage. The Bangladeshi side often fails to confirm their nationality or outright denies their citizenship,” an officer said.

Officials revealed that most of these individuals entered India through porous border routes and secured fake Indian identity documents with the help of organized networks. In most of the cases, the permanent addresses used by these Bangladeshi nationals were found to be bogus.

A critical bottleneck for security agencies is the refusal of the host country to accept deportees. “Even after a Bangladeshi national is convicted in court, the deportation process is not straightforward. There have been cases where the host country Bangladesh has refused to acknowledge these individuals as their citizens, making repatriation nearly impossible,” the senior official said. This admission underscores a growing diplomatic and legal conundrum for Indian authorities, where the lack of documentation and non-cooperation from the Bangladeshi side often leads to indefinite detention or legal limbo for the detainees.

A senior official from the Bureau of Immigration noted that the primary hurdle in the deportation process is identity confirmation. “We cannot deport anyone unless the Bangladeshi government officially verifies their nationality. Without valid documents or cooperation, the process is paralyzed,” the official said. This challenge has led to prolonged detention of many individuals in correctional homes or holding centers, often for months or years. In some cases, courts order the release of detainees if their continued detention is deemed unjustifiable.

Maharashtra’s Minister of State for Home Affairs, Yogesh Ramdas Kadam, recently presented detailed statistics in the state legislative assembly regarding the arrest and deportation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals in the state.

According to the data, from January 2023 to March 2025, a total of 2,935 illegal Bangladeshi nationals have been arrested across the state. However, only 587 of them have been deported back to Bangladesh. This means that approximately 20% of the arrested illegal Bangladeshi nationals have been deported, as per official records.

In Mumbai, between January and March, 197 cases were registered against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. These cases led to the arrest of over 369 illegal Bangladeshi nationals, but only 17 were deported after completing the lengthy formalities.

Arrest and deportation figures (excluding Mumbai)

2021-

Arrested- 192

Deported- 109

Result- 56.77%

2022-

Arrested- 217

Deported- 77

Result- 35.48%

2023-

Arrested- 573

Deported- 127

Result- 22.16%

2024-

Arrested- 716

Deported- 202

Result- 28.21%

These operations have targeted various districts across Maharashtra, including Mumbai, Thane, Nashik, Nanded, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and other districts.

Deportation of undocumented migrants requires coordination between multiple Indian agencies including the BSF, local police, immigration authorities, and the Ministry of External Affairs as well as active engagement from the Bangladeshi government. Officials admit that while mechanisms for deportation exist under the India-Bangladesh extradition treaty and bilateral dialogues, ground-level implementation is inconsistent. “We send dossiers for verification, but responses are slow and often inconclusive,” said another source familiar with the process.

Enforcement agencies stress the urgent need for enhanced bilateral cooperation and a reliable verification mechanism. “We need a faster and verifiable identification system and accountable cooperation from both sides,” said a senior immigration official. “Otherwise, the cycle of infiltration, arrest, and stalled deportation will continue.”

The ongoing crisis in Bangladesh has added a layer of complexity to an already fragile diplomatic relationship. Indian officials say that until Bangladesh resolves its internal issues and provides more transparent cooperation on deportation matters, the process will remain slow and uncertain. “This situation requires urgent resolution,” an official said. “We need cooperation from Bangladesh not only for deportations but also for broader security and diplomatic concerns. Until then, the deportation process will remain in limbo, and the strain between the two nations will continue to grow.”