Since May 7, 2025, Indian authorities have forcibly returned over 1,900 individuals to Bangladesh, including more than 200 Rohingya refugees, through unauthorized border “push-ins,” according to official reports. These actions, primarily in states like Assam, Tripura, and Gujarat, have drawn criticism from human rights groups for violating international law and bilateral repatriation protocols. Many returnees, some showing signs of physical abuse, were detained without due process, with allegations of ethnic profiling targeting Muslim communities.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly urged India to adhere to formal deportation mechanisms, but responses remain pending. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has intercepted over 1,000 of these individuals across 17 border districts, with some identified as Indian citizens and sent back. UNHCR has called for India to respect the right to seek asylum, particularly for Rohingya refugees registered in India. Indian officials claim the deportees are undocumented migrants, but critics argue that legal frameworks, including India’s Foreigners Act, are being bypassed.
The operation, intensified after regional tensions in April 2025, has sparked concerns about rising anti-India sentiment in Bangladesh. Experts warn that without diplomatic resolution, the ongoing push-ins could strain bilateral ties and exacerbate humanitarian challenges for returnees, many of whom face uncertainty in Bangladesh’s already strained refugee camps.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 10th, 2025
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