A significant and sudden gathering of Bangladeshi nationals at a key checkpost in West Bengal has raised serious concerns over a potential voluntary exodus of undocumented immigrants, reportedly driven by widespread fears of a new citizenship verification process in India.

The Hakimpur checkpost in the Basirhat subdivision, under the Swarupnagar police station, witnessed a dramatic surge in activity on Monday morning, with hundreds of people seen attempting to cross back into Bangladesh. Local alarm has been escalating since Sunday night, when residents first reported seeing groups begin to gather near the border.

Driven by SIR/NRC Rumours

The primary catalyst for the movement appears to be unconfirmed rumours regarding the alleged implementation of an official citizenship drive, such as a State-level Identity Register (SIR) or the National Register of Citizens (NRC), in West Bengal and other parts of India.

Local reports suggest that illegal immigrants, who had previously settled in India, are now choosing to return to Bangladesh voluntarily to avoid official scrutiny and potential deportation.

Despite the palpable panic gripping the gathering crowds, both the local police and the Border Security Force (BSF) have maintained that no official verification or registration drive is currently underway along this stretch of the international border.

Migrant Labourers Head Home

The individuals waiting near the checkpost—men, women, and children—were sheltering under temporary structures, many carrying heavy bags and bundles of meagre personal belongings. In interviews, most identified themselves as migrant labourers, having worked as rickshaw pullers, construction helpers, or kiln workers across various Indian states.

They are predominantly residents of the Satkhira and Khulna districts of Bangladesh. Many candidly admitted to having entered India illegally years ago—some as recently as two or three years back, others over a decade in search of better livelihood opportunities.

One such individual, Abdul Sarkar, a resident of Satkhira, confirmed the fear-driven return:

“We were residing in Kolkata. We had procured India documents for day-to-day activities, but now I am going back to my hometown, Satkhira, along with my family.”

Another individual, identified as Munna, revealed the mindset behind the decision to leave:

“I was staying here for the last two years, working as an unskilled labourer. Since we are not legal Indian citizens, it is wise for us to go back to Bangladesh. My hometown is Satkhira… Police could not intercept us earlier because most of us stayed in slums or workplaces where there was very little police presence. At the border now, formalities like document verification are being done before the pushback.”

Authorities Maintain Vigilance

Local residents reported that close to 300 Bangladeshi nationals had congregated near Hakimpur since Sunday evening, with the numbers peaking sharply on Monday morning.

While the atmosphere at the border remains tense, the situation is reported to be largely orderly. However, the movement highlights the growing sensitivity and fear surrounding immigration enforcement.

While the administration has not officially confirmed any formal citizen verification or NRC exercise in the area, the sheer volume of people choosing to leave suggests that the fear of stricter enforcement alone is proving a potent driver for this sudden wave of cross-border movement.

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