India pushed Bengali Muslim citizens into Bangladesh
Relatives say Indian citizens were expelled across border despite valid documents, raising concerns over profiling and due process
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Families in eastern India have accused Indian security forces of forcibly pushing 14 Bengali Muslim citizens into Bangladesh after labeling them as undocumented migrants, an allegation that has triggered diplomatic engagement between border authorities and renewed scrutiny of India’s treatment of Bengali-speaking Muslims.
According to the Indian media, the incident occurred on December 26, 2025, when personnel of the Border Security Force allegedly pushed the group across the Gede border point in West Bengal after detaining them in the eastern state of Odisha. Relatives said the individuals had lived in Odisha for decades and possessed valid Indian identity documents.
Family members said those detained belonged to a single extended family that had settled in Odisha nearly 70 years ago and were registered voters with Aadhaar cards — India’s biometric ID, voter identification, ration cards, and land records issued by Indian authorities.
Despite presenting documentation, relatives said police dismissed their claims and accused the family of being Bangladeshi nationals.
The family identified those pushed across the border as Sheikh Jabbar (70), his sons Sheikh Hakim (45), Sheikh Ukil (40), Sheikh Raja (38) and Sheikh Banti (28), along with women and children from the same household.
Among them were Gulshan Bibi (90), Alkum Bibi (65), Samseri Bibi (40), Sabera Bibi (35), Meherun Bibi (25), and children including Shakila Khatun (11), Nasrin Parveen (12), Sheikh Touhid (11) and Sheikh Rahid (2).
Relatives said the detention was driven by linguistic profiling. “They were targeted because they speak Bengali,” one family member said, adding that police refused to examine documents and threatened relatives who sought answers.
Bangladesh border authorities later confirmed the incident. Md Nazmul Hasan, commanding officer of Bangladesh’s 6 Border Guard Battalion in Chuadanga, said the group was pushed into Bangladesh at night under foggy conditions.
He stated that Bangladeshi authorities had verified that all 14 individuals were Indian citizens with no familial links in Bangladesh.
Hasan said Bangladeshi forces had earlier blocked a similar attempt days before and lodged a formal protest with Indian authorities. He added that discussions were underway between senior officials of both countries to facilitate the group’s return to India following procedural checks.
The incident has drawn political attention within India. Leaders from the opposition Congress party said the case reflects a broader pattern of harassment and violence targeting Bengali-speaking migrant workers, particularly in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Human rights groups have described the alleged pushback as a violation of India’s Constitution and Supreme Court safeguards, warning that forced expulsions without due process could amount to collective punishment based on religion or language. Legal advocates said they are preparing to challenge the incident in court if accountability measures are not initiated.
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