Bangladeshis Flee India's West Bengal as SIR Verification Exercise Continues

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The Hakimpur border outpost in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, has witnessed a surge in Bangladeshis seeking to return home amidst the ongoing Statelessness Identification Register (SIR) verification exercise. Two days after West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose's visit to review reports of 'reverse migration', the border saw a fresh influx of Bangladeshis on Wednesday, with over 60 individuals gathering near the checkpost with luggage. According to officials, many of the returnees have been living in West Bengal and other Indian states for years using fake identity documents, which they fear may not withstand the SIR scrutiny. The exercise aims to identify and verify the nationality of individuals, particularly those who have been living in India without proper documentation. Jamir Alam, a 60-year-old migrant from Pandua's Simlagarh area, was among those waiting to return to Bangladesh. Despite possessing a voter card and Aadhaar, Alam lacked the required '2002 linkage' under the SIR norms. He expressed relief at being able to return to his aunt in Bangladesh, citing his declining health and lack of family support in India. Another migrant, Mohammad Anis from Satkhira, had crossed the border with the help of agents and worked as a laborer in Delhi for several years. He attributed his decision to return to the SIR exercise, saying, 'The SIR exercise has started, so we have come to return.' BSF personnel confirmed that most of those arriving at the post in recent days are 'self-deporting', and the force is following guidelines to verify nationality, coordinate with Bangladeshi authorities, and facilitate repatriation. The governor's visit on Monday had resulted in a temporary lull in the return of Bangladeshis, but the usual flow resumed since Tuesday evening. The reverse movement of undocumented migrants has been observed in pockets of North and South Bengal since the SIR exercise began earlier this month. Hakimpur has become a focal point, with several Bangladeshis voluntarily approaching the BSF each day to return home. Local residents have reported that the crowd that disappeared during the governor's visit 'reappeared in full strength' since Tuesday evening-Wednesday morning as the verification process continued on the Indian side and coordination with Bangladeshi authorities proceeded for formal handover.