India has urged Bangladesh to accelerate the nationality verification and repatriation of alleged illegal migrants on its soil.

The request comes as both nations seek to clear a significant backlog of cases to prevent diplomatic friction and avoid forced migration incidents at the border.

Indian authorities raised the issue on Tuesday, one day after the Bharatiya Janata Party won assembly elections in West Bengal. The push for faster processing targets a backlog of nationality-verification cases that have remained pending for more than five years [4].

According to reports, the number of pending cases is approximately 2,862 [1], though other estimates place the figure at 2,800 [3] or nearly 3,000 [2]. India is calling for a more efficient resolution of these cases to ensure the legal repatriation of individuals to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman addressed the situation, noting the importance of formal processes. Rahman said, "Dhaka will take action if there any ‘push‑in’ incidents from the Indian side."

These "push-in" incidents refer to the forced movement of people across the border without formal verification. The Indian side is seeking to utilize structured bilateral mechanisms to resolve the status of these individuals and clear the administrative hurdle of the thousands of pending files [4].

The timing of the request follows a shift in the political landscape of West Bengal, a border state where the issue of illegal migration has been a central point of political contention. By urging Dhaka to speed up the verification process, New Delhi aims to stabilize the border and address internal political pressures regarding undocumented residents.

“"Dhaka will take action if there any ‘push‑in’ incidents from the Indian side."”

The acceleration of migrant verification reflects the intersection of domestic Indian politics and bilateral diplomacy. With the Bharatiya Janata Party winning the West Bengal elections, there is increased political momentum to address illegal migration. However, the warning from Bangladesh regarding 'push-in' incidents suggests that while India wants faster removals, Bangladesh will not accept the unilateral or forced deportation of individuals without verified nationality.