Bangladesh will resist push-ins by Dhaka if India attempts to send unverified people across the border, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said in Dhaka on Monday, June 1, 2026, amid renewed concern over border management and repatriation procedures.
Bangladesh push-ins warning follows border concerns
Bangladesh has said it will not accept any attempt to push people into its territory from India under the label of “infiltrators” without proper verification and formal procedures.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said Dhaka would continue to resist such attempts and would raise the matter through political and diplomatic channels if needed. Her remarks came as Bangladesh and India prepare for a meeting between Border Guard Bangladesh and India’s Border Security Force in New Delhi next week.
The state minister said border management and related issues, including alleged push-ins, would be discussed at the BGB-BSF meeting. She said Bangladesh expected BGB to maintain a firm position while presenting the government’s stance.
“We hope that the BGB will maintain a very firm stance. They will present the government’s stance and a peaceful situation will prevail at our border,” she said, according to reports.
She also said Bangladesh wanted India’s stated willingness to adapt to changed circumstances in Bangladesh to be reflected in action on the ground. However, she added that Dhaka would not accept push-ins under any circumstances.
India says repatriation must follow established mechanisms
India has said the issue should be viewed in the context of repatriating people it identifies as illegal Bangladeshi nationals.
At a weekly media briefing on Friday, May 29, 2026, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi had referred more than 2,680 cases to Bangladesh for nationality verification. He said India would be in a position to deport those people once Bangladesh confirmed their nationality.
Earlier, on Thursday, May 7, 2026, the Indian spokesperson said more than 2,860 cases of nationality verification were pending with Bangladesh, with many unresolved for more than five years. He said foreign nationals staying illegally in India must be repatriated in line with laws, procedures and established bilateral arrangements.
Bangladesh, however, has repeatedly maintained that any repatriation must be carried out through formal procedures and not through unilateral border actions. Dhaka’s latest position reflects concern that unverified people could be forced across the border without due process.
BGB steps up border vigilance
Border Guard Bangladesh has increased vigilance in parts of the frontier with India amid concerns over possible forced crossings.
BGB’s 60th Battalion began public awareness campaigns in border areas of Brahmanbaria district in late May, using loudspeakers to urge residents to stay alert to possible illegal crossings or push-in attempts.
Lieutenant Colonel S M Shariful Islam, commander of the battalion, said patrols and surveillance had been strengthened across border areas. He also said intelligence operations were continuing to prevent illegal push-ins, human trafficking, drug smuggling and other cross-border crimes.
The Bangladesh-India border stretches over more than 4,000 kilometres, making it one of the world’s longest land borders. Border management has long involved concerns over undocumented migration, trafficking, smuggling, fencing, riverine movement and civilian safety.
Background
The latest tension comes as India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party has placed renewed emphasis on undocumented migration in border states, including West Bengal, Assam and Tripura.
Indian officials have said the repatriation of illegal foreign nationals must proceed under law and existing bilateral arrangements. Bangladesh has said it is willing to address verified repatriation cases through proper channels, but opposes attempts to push people across the border without nationality confirmation.
The issue has been politically sensitive in both countries. In India, undocumented migration has been raised repeatedly in border-state politics. In Bangladesh, alleged push-ins are viewed as a sovereignty, security and humanitarian concern.
In recent weeks, Indian authorities have also reported action against suspected undocumented migrants in border areas. Reports from West Bengal said holding centres had been set up for suspected Bangladeshi nationals, while verification and deportation processes were being handled with relevant authorities.
Bangladesh has also raised concerns in the past that people other than verified Bangladeshi nationals could be pushed into its territory. Dhaka’s position is that identity checks and repatriation must be completed through recognised mechanisms, not through informal or forced crossings.
What’s next
The next BGB-BSF meeting in New Delhi is expected to be closely watched, as the country is likely to raise alleged push-ins, border security, verification procedures, and wider border management concerns.
The talks may provide both sides an opportunity to clarify repatriation procedures, reduce local tensions, and reaffirm the role of established bilateral mechanisms.
For now, push-ins remain a sensitive issue in Dhaka-New Delhi relations, with both governments under pressure to balance border security, legal process and diplomatic stability.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 2, 2026
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