Bangladeshis Gather at Hakimpur Border 'WB Deportation Drive'

A large group of Bangladeshi nationals gathered at the Hakimpur checkpost near the international border in North 24 Parganas on Friday following the implementation of the newly introduced "detect, delete and deport" policy by the BJP-led West Bengal government. 

Many of those attempting to return to Bangladesh said they feared legal action, including possible imprisonment and fines, under the new policy. Several claimed they had been living in different parts of West Bengal for years without valid documents.

One individual who arrived in India a year ago said he had crossed over after being told by a



friend that employment opportunities were available. Another migrant, Abdul, who said he had been living in the state since 2017, stated that he lacked any 

Indian identity documents and feared penalties under the new rules. He claimed that local residents had helped him settle and that he had worked as a rickshaw puller in Barasat without facing issues in previous years.

Abdul also alleged that local political workers were aware of the presence of undocumented migrants in the area and said the situation changed after the new government came to power, prompting him to leave out of concern for his safety.