LOOKEAST

LOOKEAST REPORT |

BORDER Guards Bangladesh (BGB) have recently detained a huge number of people who trying to cross over to the country of origin (Bangladesh) through Maheshpur border in the wake of the Indian federal government’s announcement that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) would be implemented throughout India.

Commanding Officer of 58 BGB, Lt. Col. Kamrul Ahsan told media that 61 women, 47 men and 51 children have been detained over the past one week when they were trying to enter Bangladesh from Indian side of the border through Jaluli, Palianpur and Khosalpur area under the Maheshpur sub–district.

■ Tobiron Nessa, 45, is the only member of her immediate family whom the Indian government recognises as a citizen. Her husband and five children have all been left off the National Register of Citizens even though she says all have Indian birth certificates | Furkan Latif Khan

As many as 40 such immigrants were nabbed last week, Mr. Ahsan said, adding that they have been produced at the Jhinaidaha court through local police.

The arrested were originally from Khulna, Bagerhat and Barisal, but had migrated to India between the last 10 to 20 years and had been residing permanently mainly in Assam, Bengaluru and some other places.

District’s Deputy Commissioner Saroj Kumar Nath said he met and spoke with some of the detained trespassers. “I’ve checked their claims and statements. They are Bangladeshis

‘’They were finding it difficult to remain there (India) owing to the influence of NRC,’’ the BGB commander said.

“The people who once migrated to India are facing various problems, especially in areas like Bengaluru. That’s why they are trying to re–enter Bangladesh with everything they have, claiming they once lived here. They don’t want to live in India anymore.”

“However, these are giving addresses of remote areas, which BGB can’t confirm immediately. But the higher officials have been communicated.”

Maheshpur police station OC Rashedul Alam said most of the detainees have been originally from Bagerhat and Khulna, and also have relatives in Bangladesh.

The district’s Deputy Commissioner Saroj Kumar Nath said he met and spoke with some of the detained trespassers. “I’ve checked their claims and statements. They are Bangladeshis.”

People who once migrated to India are facing various problems, especially in areas like Bengaluru. That’s why they are trying to re–enter Bangladesh with everything they have, claiming they once lived here. They don’t want to live in India anymore

On November 21, India’s Home Minister Amit Shah told the Parliament’s upper house Rajya Sabha that the NRC would be implemented in the entire country.

Before the Parliamentary elections earlier this year, the BJP had promised to implement the NRC in the entire country if voted to power. The party will now fulfill its poll promise, Shah said.

Replying to questions, he added that the NRC was conducted in Assam on the Supreme Court’s order and under a separate law. The exercise will be repeated when the NRC will be launched in the entire country.

No discrimination, however, would be made on the basis of religion, Shah said.

According to observers, the NRC can be implemented in the entire country only after updating of the National Population Register (NPR). This is to be done during the national census of 2021. ■