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The current political turmoil in Bangladesh has triggered fears of a possible influx of illegal immigrants into India, particularly in the north-eastern region due to its proximity to the neighbouring country. The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO) has sought swift action from the government of India to prevent illegal entry and resettlement of Bangladeshi nationals in the region, citing past instances of mass migration from Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) during the 1947 partition and the 1971 Liberation War. Besides NESO, several civil society organisations in the region, including the Naga Students’ Federation, have expressed concern. The government of India has assured to protect the borders; state governments have issued directives to concerned departments to seriously look into the matter; and Border Security Force officials have said that its personnel guarding more than 4,000 km borders with Bangladesh have been put on high alert. While it is reassuring to learn that steps have been taken, the people of the region have every reason to be alarmed by the unrest in the neighbouring country, as it shares borders with four north-eastern states -- Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam – and what affects one state will have an impact on the rest of this land-locked region. Unchecked migration has caused unrest in the region, notably the Assam Movement between 1979 and 1985. The people of the region are apprehensive that the unchecked entry of illegal immigrants will change the demographic structure and marginalise the indigenous population. The fear is legitimate.
However, the fact that the issue has been taken more seriously during a crisis shows that it has not been taken seriously despite the obvious movement of people across international borders all these years. The Centre’s stopgap measures have failed to address the issue, which is evident in the thousands of Myanmar citizens fleeing to north-eastern states after the military toppled the government in a coup in 2021. The Supreme Court of India has also noted that failure to curb the migration of Bangladeshis into India could change the demographics and pose a burden on resources meant for Indian citizens. Interestingly, India has claimed that millions of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh are in the country, while the latter has denied this. The figures remain debatable due to a lack of accurate data to back the claims. What is needed now is to go beyond rhetoric and frame policies to completely stop the influx of illegal immigrants, be it during peacetime or wartime. The repercussions of inaction will prove costly, especially in regions like the Northeast, which is home to many indigenous communities. States like Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Manipur should make use of the Inner Line Permit regime to curb the influx of illegal immigrants.