New Delhi: In the aftermath of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) coming into force, the Border Security Force (BSF) has observed a noticeable shift in migration trends along the Indo-Bangladesh border. According to senior BSF officials, a significant number of Bangladeshi nationals who had been living in India illegally are now crossing back into their home country.
Officials reported a decline in fresh infiltration attempts from Bangladesh over the past month, coinciding with the enforcement of the CAA. Most of the reverse migration is being seen across West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, an area known for porous stretches of border and traditional migration routes.
Arrests During Return Attempts
BSF sources confirmed that in January alone, 268 individuals were apprehended while attempting to move back into Bangladesh. Interestingly, instead of depending on clandestine or newly forged routes, many of them chose traditional passageways that have historically been used for cross-border movement.
Inspector General Y.B. Khurniya, heading the BSF South Bengal frontier, noted a sharp increase in movement back towards Bangladesh. This has added a new dimension to the BSF’s monitoring efforts, which usually focus on preventing infiltration into India rather than outward migration.
Challenges Along Riverine Borders
One of the persistent difficulties in border management is the absence of fencing in riverine stretches of South Bengal. These unfenced waterways make monitoring far more challenging and have long been exploited by illegal migrants and smugglers alike. Despite these challenges, BSF officials maintain that the recent trend indicates a reduction in fresh inflow from across the border, though vigilance remains crucial.
Changing Dynamics After CAA
Security experts believe that the CAA’s implementation has acted as a deterrent, discouraging new entrants and influencing those without valid documents to leave voluntarily. While the law sparked widespread debate across the country, its impact on migration dynamics at the Indo-Bangladesh border is becoming increasingly evident through these statistics.
Officials say that the BSF will continue its efforts to strengthen surveillance in sensitive areas, while also engaging in cooperation with Bangladesh authorities to tackle illegal cross-border activities.
