Bangladesh Fears Border Pushbacks After BJP Win WB, Assam Polls
- By Thetripurapost Desk, Dhaka
- May 07, 2026
- 602
Following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in the West Bengal and Assam Assembly elections, concerns have emerged in Bangladesh over the possibility of increased “pushback” operations along the India-Bangladesh border.
Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Dhaka hopes incidents of forcibly sending people across the border from India into Bangladesh will not rise under the new political situation in West Bengal.
He stated that Bangladesh does not want individuals to be labelled as illegal immigrants and pushed into the country without due process.
In response to these concerns, Bangladesh authorities have reportedly instructed border security forces to remain on alert.
Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman had also warned that Dhaka would take necessary action if such incidents occur.
The issue of “pushbacks” — forcibly sending alleged undocumented migrants across the border — has periodically surfaced along the India-Bangladesh frontier in recent years. During the West Bengal election campaign, the BJP had accused the government led by Mamata Banerjee of sheltering illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
At the same time, Bangladesh’s ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party welcomed the BJP’s victory in Bengal. BNP Information Secretary Azizul Bari Helal congratulated the BJP and expressed hope that the political change could strengthen India-Bangladesh ties.
Helal accused the Mamata Banerjee government of delaying the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement, calling it the “biggest obstacle” in bilateral relations. He claimed both the Bangladesh government and the administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi were interested in resolving the issue.
He further expressed optimism that a government led by Suvendu Adhikari in West Bengal could help improve bilateral relations and advance the Teesta agreement.
The Teesta River originates from the Pahunri Glacier in the Himalayas and flows through Sikkim and West Bengal before entering Bangladesh and joining the Brahmaputra River. The river stretches around 414 kilometres, with approximately 83 per cent of its course in India and 17 per cent in Bangladesh.
The livelihoods of nearly 20 million people in Bangladesh and 10 million in India are dependent on the Teesta basin. However, the two countries have remained locked in a long-standing dispute over water sharing. Bangladesh has sought access to 50 per cent of the river’s water, while India has pushed for a 55 per cent share.
Experts say concerns in West Bengal over water availability for local use have contributed to delays in finalising the Teesta Water Treaty, making it one of the most sensitive unresolved issues in India-Bangladesh relations.