Last Updated:
Union government data accessed by CNN-News18 shows that exfiltration in the first half of this year stood at 3,536, almost double the number from 1,049 in 2024
As per BSF data till June 30, 2025, 35 BSF personnel were injured in attacks by Bangladeshi smugglers. (PTI)
Amidst a pushback from state police across the country against alleged illegal Bangladeshi migrants, there appears to be a beeline to cross over to Bangladesh from India.
Union government data accessed by CNN-News18 shows that exfiltration in the first half of this year stood at 3,536, almost double the number from 1,049 in 2024.
Recommended Stories
In Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Assam, police have started a crackdown in unauthorised colonies and detained a number of people for being illegal immigrants. The case of 26-year-old Sunali Khatun, who claims to be a resident of Birbhum in West Bengal, has caught attention in this regard. Khatun is eight months pregnant. While she and her family were detained by Delhi Police from Rohini, her family in Bengal claims she was pushed into Bangladesh and arrested by police there since she claimed to be an Indian national.
“Incidents of detention have led to more illegal Bangladeshis crossing over on their own from India using the unfenced sections of the border. Some were handed over by BSF and accepted by BGB after scrutiny,” a BSF official said.
Infiltration a major concern
Infiltration from Bangladesh continues to be a cause of concern. However, data suggests a slight fall from previous years.
Till July 15, 2025, 1,372 infiltrators were apprehended by the Border Security Force (BSF). In 2024, the number was 2,425. DG BSF Daljeet Singh Chawdhary is likely to take up the issue of Infiltration with his BGB counterpart.
The 56th Director General Level Border Co-ordination Conference between BSF and BGB is being organised by BGB in Dhaka from August 25-28.
“During the course of conference, discussions will be held on prevention against attack/assault on BSF personnel and Indian civilians by Bangladesh based Miscreants/Nationals, how to prevent trans-border crimes, construction of single row fence, action against Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) in Bangladesh, issues related to border infrastructure, joint efforts for effective implementation of Coordinated Border Management Plan (CBMP), Confidence Building Measures (CBM)and other issues,” a BSF spokesperson said.
A Bangladeshi Police officer, Mohammad Arifuzzaman, was detained by BSF from Hakimpur, 24 Parganas, on Saturday. West Bengal police, which is questioning Arifuzzaman, believes he was fleeing persecution after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government.
Concerns about attacks on BSF personnel
The DG BSF will take up with DG BGB the recent cases of attacks on BSF personnel by cow smugglers. As per BSF data till June 30, 2025, 35 BSF personnel were injured in attacks by Bangladeshi smugglers. In 2024, the number stood at 69, in 2023 it was 74, in 2022 it was 47 and 64 in 2021.
About the Author
Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero …Read More
Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from ground zero … Read More
- Location :
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Loading comments…
Read More
