India is prepared to deport 2,369 Bangladeshi nationals currently residing illegally in the country, said Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, during a weekly press briefing on Thursday.
Responding to questions about ongoing cross-border tensions, Jaiswal emphasized that Bangladesh must promptly verify the identities of its nationals who have overstayed or entered India unlawfully. “Those residing illegally in India, regardless of nationality, are subject to action under Indian law. Many of them are Bangladeshi citizens awaiting deportation,” he said.
The Indian official added that many of the individuals identified have already completed their prison terms and have been waiting for repatriation for years — some since 2020. “We have requested Bangladesh to expedite the verification process so these individuals can be returned home. Each of the 2,369 people on the list will have to go back,” Jaiswal stated.
In recent weeks, there have been multiple reports of undocumented individuals, including Rohingyas, being pushed across the border into Bangladesh. Dhaka has strongly protested these incidents, sending formal letters to New Delhi and urging a halt to such “push-ins.”
Addressing the concern, Jaiswal reiterated that deportations are part of India’s legal framework and not directed at any specific group. He maintained that the process hinges on Bangladesh verifying the citizenship status of the individuals in question.
Separately, when asked about recent joint military exercises involving the U.S. Army and Air Force in Cox’s Bazar, Jaiswal noted that India monitors all regional developments closely and takes necessary actions as required.
