Bangladesh to send fresh letter to India over ongoing push-ins: Foreign Adviser

Dhaka will send a fresh 'substantive' letter to India reminding them of set mechanisms to deal with the push-ins, noting that push-in is still happening.

"We will give them a fresh letter [diplomatic note] today or tomorrow. We give them a substantive letter," Foreign Affairs Advisor Md Touhid Hossain said while responding to a question while facing journalists at the Foreign Ministry today.

Asked whether the letter would be in a soft language or kind of a protest note, the adviser said it depends on how it is viewed.

He said Bangladesh is in touch with India on the issues of push-ins with regular exchanges. 

He said communication with New Delhi continues and Dhaka is trying that nothing happens beyond the set mechanisms, mentioning that the Indian side has given Bangladesh a list and Dhaka has taken some of them after verification.

Bangladesh's position is that it will examine each case separately and will receive only if there is proof that they are Bangladeshi citizens. "We see it [push-in] happening. It is not possible to face physically," he said.

Hossain said there is a mechanism on consular issues and using the mechanism, Dhaka is trying to bring it under the set rules.

Asked about updates on deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's extradition, the Adviser said there has been no feedback yet.

Seeking an accelerated verification process, India has said they have a large number of Bangladeshi nationals - around over 2000 - who are required to be deported after verification.

"We have asked the Bangladeshi side to verify their nationality. We have a pending list of 2360.....upwards of 2360 cases of people who are required to be deported," said official Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal recently.

During a regular briefing in New Delhi, he also said many of them have actually completed their jail sentences.

"And in many cases, the nationality verification is required to be done. It is pending since 2020. So, almost five years have passed," said the MEA Spokesperson.

The Indian side urged the Bangladeshi side that they must expedite the verification process so that people who are required to be deported can be sent back to Bangladesh.

"They must expedite this process," Spokesperson Jaiswal said.

The MEA spokesperson said the people who are staying in India illegally or foreigners who are staying in India illegally, whether they happen to be Bangladeshi national or any other national, will be dealt with as per law.