Migration has always been a significant aspect of human history, driven by the search for food, shelter, freedom, security, and better living conditions. This movement of people often influences the socio-economic, cultural, and political frameworks of the host country.
While migration can lead to positive outcomes, it can also generate resentment among local populations due to cultural, ideological, and resource-based differences. The Indian strategic thinker Kautilya warned against the indiscriminate acceptance of foreigners, predicting eventual conflict over local culture and resources, potentially destabilizing the internal security of the host nation.
Historical Context of Bangladeshi Migration to India
India’s geographical proximity, relatively stable economy compared to its neighbors, and liberal democratic ethos have made it an attractive destination for migrants and refugees from the region. People fleeing persecution and adverse conditions in Tibet, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have sought refuge in India. Among these groups, illegal immigrants from Bangladesh constitute the largest share, significantly impacting India’s border states and Indian security at large.
The partition of British India in 1947 marked the beginning of successive waves of migration from East Bengal, now Bangladesh, into India. During the Liberation War of 1971, around 10 million Bengalis fled East Pakistan to escape religious and political persecution, seeking shelter in India. However, the migration did not stop with the end of the war. Economic hardship, political instability, and population pressure continued to drive illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India in the following decades.
Demographics and Magnitude of the Issue
Bangladesh shares a 4,096-kilometer border with the Indian states of West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram. Over the years, reports and statistics have highlighted the scale of this issue:
- In 1997, Home Minister Inderjit Gupta informed Parliament that 10 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants were residing in India.
- The Task Force on Border Management in 2001 estimated the number at 15 million.
- According to a 2004 statement by Sriprakash Jaiswal, then Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, approximately 12 million illegal Bangladeshi migrants were in India, with West Bengal alone hosting 5.7 million.
- Sanjeev Tiwari’s 2016 report for Carnegie suggested that illegal Bangladeshi migrants in India exceed 15 million, concentrated primarily in border states but also dispersing to distant regions.
This unchecked influx has altered the demographic landscape, particularly in the northeastern states, fueling socio-political tensions and insurgency. The Supreme Court of India has declared all Bangladeshis who entered India after March 25, 1971, as illegal migrants, urging the government to accelerate their identification, detection, and deportation. However, enforcement remains a challenge due to political, logistical, and humanitarian concerns.
India has repeatedly raised the issue of illegal migration with Bangladesh at diplomatic levels. However, Dhaka has neither acknowledged the problem’s magnitude nor taken effective measures to curb the flow of migrants. A bilateral agreement that facilitates the repatriation of illegal migrants after due verification could be a pragmatic step toward resolving the issue.
In recent weeks, there have been frequent reports of Indian authorities deporting illegal Bangladeshi migrants, with news of such actions appearing almost daily. Notably, between December 31, 2024, and January 2, 2025, 30 individuals were deported. Additionally, India has established several detention centers to house individuals identified as illegal immigrants, including those from Bangladesh.
The state of Assam, which shares a border with Bangladesh, has been particularly proactive in this regard. Currently, detention centers in Assam are located within district jails in Goalpara, Kokrajhar, Silchar, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, and Tezpur. These facilities detain individuals declared as illegal foreigners by the Foreigners’ Tribunals. Reports indicate that new detention centers are under construction, such as one in Matia, Goalpara district.
In Delhi, there are three detention centers, two of which are managed by the Department of Social Welfare. These include a center at Nirmal Chhaya in West Delhi for women and another at the Lampur Complex in North Delhi for men. These centers accommodate trafficked individuals, irregular economic migrants, and refugees. Similar detention facilities also exist in other states, including Karnataka and Goa.
Socio-Economic and Cultural Impact
Illegal Bangladeshi migration has strained resources, altered cultural dynamics, and created economic competition in India’s border states. In Assam and Tripura, local communities have expressed concerns over cultural dominance by Bengali migrants, leading to widespread resentment. The “Assam Movement” (1979-1985) was a landmark protest against illegal immigration, culminating in the signing of the Assam Accord in 1985. However, even after the accord, the problem persisted, with ongoing agitation and demands for stricter immigration controls.
The demographic changes have also affected local livelihoods. Migrants often provide cheaper labor, undermining local workers’ economic opportunities. Cultural friction arises as migrants sometimes fail to assimilate into local traditions, exacerbating tensions.
The northeastern states of India, characterized by their predominantly tribal populations, are known for their rich cultural diversity, unique lifestyles, faith systems, and values. These communities, however, are sparsely populated and live in scattered settlements across the hilly terrain. The influx of illegal migrants has led to a situation where the native populations are being outnumbered, with the newcomers attempting to impose their own way of life on these regions. This has raised existential concerns among the indigenous communities.
The limited availability of land and resources in these hilly areas, already a challenge for the native population, has been further exacerbated by the arrival of illegal migrants. Sharing these scarce resources has placed an additional burden on the local inhabitants, intensifying struggles over access to essential needs.
Moreover, the arrival of large groups of migrants in these small, resource-constrained regions has created significant challenges in terms of employment. Migrants are increasingly taking over jobs and business opportunities, leaving the local population at a disadvantage. These dynamics are fostering tensions and heightening the potential for conflict between the local communities and the outsiders, as competition for resources and livelihoods becomes more acute.
Security Implications
Illegal migration poses serious threats to India’s internal and external security. Reports indicate that illegal migrants have facilitated anti-national and terrorist activities by providing local support and logistics to insurgents. Two major dimensions of the security threat include:
Conflict over Resources and Political Instability: Competition for resources and jobs fuels resentment among local populations, which is often exploited by political elites for electoral gains. In Assam, socio-economic and cultural grievances were mobilized politically, leading to ethnic tensions and violence.
Undermining Rule of Law: Illegal migrants frequently acquire fraudulent identification documents, exercise voting rights, and engage in smuggling and other criminal activities. Such actions erode the integrity of India’s democratic processes and legal systems.
Insurgency and Radicalization
The persistence of illegal migration has contributed to the rise of insurgent movements in border states. Organizations like the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) initially targeted illegal Bangladeshi migrants but later shifted focus as their cadres sought refuge in Bangladesh. Conversely, the attacks on migrants in Assam led to the radicalization of sections of the Muslim community, resulting in the formation of militant groups like the Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) and the Muslim United Liberation Front of Assam (MULFA). Investigations revealed these groups’ links with international terrorist organizations such as al-Qaeda and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The establishment of al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent, which includes Assam among its target areas, underscores the gravity of the security threat posed by illegal migration.
Political Patronage and West Bengal’s Case
West Bengal’s response to illegal migration differs from that of Assam due to cultural and linguistic similarities between migrants and locals. This has allowed migrants to integrate more seamlessly. However, political patronage has played a significant role in facilitating migration. Reports from intelligence agencies cited in an IDSA monograph indicate that local political leaders in West Bengal provided citizenship documents to migrants, creating a captive vote bank.
This patronage enabled successive waves of migrants to settle easily, intensifying demographic shifts and posing long-term security risks. Migrants often settle in border areas, displacing Hindu populations and creating potential vulnerabilities for national security. The construction of mosques and madrasas in these areas has further fueled concerns about anti-national activities.
The Vulnerability of ‘Chicken Neck’
The Siliguri Corridor, also referred to as the Chicken’s Neck, is a narrow strip of land near the city of Siliguri in West Bengal, India. At its narrowest point, the corridor measures 20–22 kilometers (12–14 miles) in width and serves as a critical geo-political and geo-economic link between the seven northeastern states of India and the rest of the country. The corridor is flanked by Nepal and Bangladesh on either side, with Bhutan at its northern end. Previously, the Kingdom of Sikkim was situated to the north of the corridor until its integration into India in 1975.
In recent decades, a significant demographic shift has occurred along the corridor due to the influx of Bangladeshi migrants, raising security concerns. This demographic transformation poses a major challenge for Indian security forces, as the corridor’s strategic importance makes it a potential target for extremist activities. Radical Islamist groups have long harbored ambitions of severing Northeast India from the rest of the country by exploiting the vulnerabilities of the Siliguri Corridor. This stretch—spanning the northern part of Uttar Dinajpur district and the southern part of Darjeeling district in Bengal—lies adjacent to Bangladesh to the east and the Muslim-majority districts of Kishanganj and Purnea in Bihar to the west, making it highly susceptible to security threats.
On December 20, 2024, the West Bengal Police revealed that suspected members of the global terror group Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), arrested for operating a sleeper cell in India, had specifically targeted the Siliguri Corridor. The eight individuals apprehended were allegedly involved in sleeper cell operations across Kerala, Assam, and West Bengal. According to police reports, ABT is a splinter group of the Bangladesh-based terrorist organization Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen and is banned in India, Bangladesh, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The political instability following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh has exacerbated the security situation. Rising violence against minorities and concerning developments in defense and terrorism have heightened threats for India, with the Siliguri Corridor emerging as a primary target for extremist organizations based in Bangladesh. The concentrated population of Bangladeshi migrants along the corridor provides a robust support base for these extremist groups, amplifying the challenges faced by Indian security forces in protecting this vital region.
Conclusion
Illegal migration from Bangladesh has far-reaching implications for India’s socio-economic fabric, cultural identity, and national security. It has strained resources, altered demographics, fueled insurgency, and created political instability in border regions. Addressing this issue requires a multi-pronged approach, including stringent border management, legal reforms, and diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh. Failure to tackle the problem could jeopardize India’s internal stability and undermine its long-term strategic interests.
The northeastern region of India poses a significant security challenge, and the situation has become increasingly precarious following the recent regime change in Bangladesh. Radical anti-India elements are targeting pro-India individuals within Bangladesh while simultaneously conducting covert operations across the border in India. In this context, illegal Bangladeshi migrants have emerged as valuable assets for these elements, as they often harbor sympathies for their compatriots.
Addressing this issue requires a resolute approach from the Indian government, given the critical implications for national security. It is imperative for the political leadership across party lines to exhibit maturity and prioritize national interests over narrow political considerations. Unfortunately, certain opposition parties have consistently opposed government measures aimed at tackling the problem, framing such actions as being directed against the Muslim community.
Reports indicate that some political groups have facilitated the provision of essential residency documents to illegal Bangladeshi migrants and even registered them as voters for electoral advantages. Such actions not only undermine India’s security apparatus but also hinder efforts to resolve the issue. A united and pragmatic approach by the political class, prioritizing national security over political gains, is essential to mitigate this growing threat.
About the authors:
- Prof. Jagmeet Bawa, Central University of Himachal Pradesh, Dharmshala.
- Dr. Sandeep Singh, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda.