seven-fold-increase-in-bangladesh-infiltrator-arrests

There has been a significant rise in the number of Bangladeshi nationals arrested for illegally crossing into southern West Bengal, indicating an increase in infiltration. 

Between August and November, the Border Security Force (BSF) in south Bengal caught 148 Bangladeshi nationals, a sharp rise from just 20 arrests from January to July during Sheikh Hasina’s regime in Bangladesh.

Intelligence agencies suspect that the actual number of infiltrators is much higher, as they believe that for every infiltrator caught, nine others manage to slip through unnoticed. This would suggest that more than 1,000 infiltrators have entered India between August and November. 

If this trend continues, India could face a significant number of infiltrators in the coming months due to political changes in Bangladesh.

In north Bengal, the BSF caught 106 Bangladeshis between August and November, which is similar to the 109 arrests made during the first half of the year. However, the increase in arrests in south Bengal is linked to political unrest in the southern regions of Bangladesh, near the border with India.

The areas of Khulna and Rajshahi in Bangladesh, which have experienced violent attacks against minority communities, are close to India’s southern border. Between August 4 and August 17, Khulna witnessed 791 incidents of violence, while Rajshahi saw 269.

These areas have become sources of increased infiltration as people flee the violence, taking advantage of the porous border in southern Bengal.

The India-Bangladesh border in Bengal stretches over 2,200 km, with about 1,667 km fenced and 435 km unfenced. The unfenced and riverine areas are the main concern for the BSF, as they provide easy routes for infiltrators, especially minorities from Bangladesh, fleeing from the violence.

To combat this, the BSF has intensified its surveillance by installing floodlights, CCTV cameras, and thermal imaging devices to prevent infiltrators from crossing under the cover of darkness. They are also in talks with the Border Guard Bangladesh to address the issue.

The situation became more tense after the political changes in Bangladesh in August, when a large group of about 1,000 Bangladeshis gathered near the Sitalkuchi border in north Bengal, intending to cross into India. However, the BSF successfully stopped them.