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Illegal Bangladehis: As the process of SIR intensified, the crowd at Hakimpur border has also started increasing. This border has become a return route for many people.
23 November, 2025
Illegal Bangladehis: Near Hakimpur BSF Border Outpost, North 24 Parganas, the unpaved road turning from a paved road has become an informal return corridor these days. Here those people are standing in the queue, who years ago had to leave their homes, families and poverty and come and settle in West Bengal. Now the same people are saying the same thing to the BSF soldiers again and again, let us go home. In fact, security forces and local people in the border areas of South Bengal say that since the beginning of November, the efforts of some people to cross the border have suddenly increased.
SIR’s fear
Due to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list in West Bengal, scrutiny of old documents has become mandatory. After this, Bangladeshis living in India illegally are now trying to go back to their country. Shahin Bibi, who worked as a maid in Kolkata’s New Town, stood in the queue with her daughter in her lap. He said- We came in poverty. Now there are no papers, there is fear. That’s why I want to return.
fake identity
Many people believe that they had got identity cards like Aadhaar, Ration Card or Voter ID made through brokers. Now the strictness of document verification has scared them. A young man said – What will you give if you ask to show old papers? It’s okay to leave before asking questions. At the same time, many people standing in the line had been working for years in Kolkata, Howrah, Biriti, Dhulagodi and industrial areas. Some spent 10 years, while others came just a few years ago.
BSF is stopping 200 people
According to BSF officers, 150-200 people are being stopped and examined every day. Biometric details are sent to the district administration and police, which takes 2-3 days. During this time, people are seen waiting in plastic sheets and sheds outside the outpost. Those waiting outside get food sometimes from BSF and sometimes from local shopkeepers. They are given pulses and rice worth Rs 40 and fish and rice worth Rs 60.
years of earnings
29 year old Manirul Shaikh told that it cost him 5-7 thousand rupees to come here, but 20 thousand rupees were spent in getting the documents made. SIR changed everything. Another young man Imran Ghazi said softly – I voted in 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024. However, there is no paper of 2002, hence I am returning. Apart from this, a police officer said – 95 people have been arrested in two days. Now there is no space left in the police stations.
politics intensified
SIR has heated up the politics of the state before the 2026 elections. BJP is alleging that TMC has closed its eyes on infiltration for years, while the state government is accusing the Center of spreading fear. However, Hakimpur border is telling a different story. An old man, who used to earn his living by singing in Bengal for 18 years, said – Now I want to go back and sing again. Just afraid whether our people will recognize us or not. Let us tell you that in the last 6 days, about 1,200 people have returned to Bangladesh after completing the process. Many are still waiting for their turn. As evening approached, a BSF jawan, looking at the lines, said – These people had come in the dark, now they are going into the light.
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