Infiltration from across the Bangladesh border, particularly involving the Rohingya community, has become a critical issue, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official. This statement was made in Tripura on Monday following the recent arrest of 29 Bangladesh nationals lacking valid travel documents.
MEA Joint Secretary Ankan Banerjee highlighted the severity of the situation, noting the presence of Rohingyas in various regions, including Hyderabad, Haryana, and Kashmir. “Infiltration, especially Rohingya infiltration, has become a very serious issue. This is a threat to security,” asserted Banerjee.
The infiltration issue is being addressed at the highest levels, with efforts to repatriate illegal immigrants stalling due to identification challenges. “The MEA can’t give clearance until the host country establishes their identification of nationality,” Banerjee explained.
Addressing concerns about juvenile infiltrators detained without MEA clearance, Banerjee noted that infiltrators often provide incorrect information and the host countries are reluctant to accept them back. “The MEA is just an intervening agency which can’t issue clearance unless nationality identification is cleared by the country concerned,” he clarified.
Banerjee also discussed efforts to enhance connectivity between the northeast and Kolkata through Bangladesh. “It is happening… We can’t force anyone. We have had a very favourable government in Dhaka since 2009. This is a political issue,” he stated, expressing optimism that the highest leadership of both countries would address pending issues amicably.
Recently, violence erupted in Bangladesh, prompting the government to deploy the army to control protests against job quotas. Official reports acknowledged 150 fatalities during the unrest among students.
Banerjee was in Tripura’s capital for the ‘Videsh Sampark Programme’, an MEA event aimed at fostering collaboration between the Centre and states. Tripura Home Secretary PK Chakravarty and DGP (Intelligence) Anrag Dhankar were also present at the programme.
