There is an outcry in the neighboring country Bangladesh. In this spark that started with the students’ protest against reservation, Sheikh Hasina’s power was burnt to ashes. The situation became such that Sheikh Hasina had to resign and leave the country. But since then the violence happening there is not stopping. It is alleged that Hindus are being selectively targeted and temples are being attacked. Massacres are taking place openly. The situation has become such that there is a crowd of more than 1000 Bangladeshi Hindus on the India-Bangladesh border in Jalpaiguri, who want to enter the Indian border.
The current situation of Bangladesh is being compared with the situation before the 1971 war. Even at that time, within ten months, one crore Bangladeshi refugees had gathered on the India-Bangladesh border. The crimes of Pakistani Army had reached its peak in East Pakistan (Bangladesh). A large number of people had crossed the Indian border to escape the increasing crimes and massacres against Bengali speaking people in Bangladesh. This situation had created a big refugee crisis for India.
But how did it start?
In 1947, Bengal was divided into East and West Bengal. West Bengal remained under India while the name of East Bengal was changed to East Pakistan, which was under West Pakistan (Pakistan). There was a large number of Bengali speaking Bengalis here and this was the reason that on linguistic basis East Pakistan (Bangladesh) tried to get out of the dominance of Pakistan and sounded the bugle of independence.
According to an estimate, during the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971, about one crore people fled from Bangladesh and came to India. At that time these people had taken refuge in areas like West Bengal, Tripura and Assam.
This was not the first time that such a large number of people from Bangladesh had taken refuge in India. Earlier this had also been seen in the 1960s. During the riots in East Pakistan in 1964 and the India-Pakistan war in 1965, it is said that about six lakh people had entered the Indian border. At the same time, about 41 lakh Bangladeshis came to India between 1946 and 1958 and 12 lakh Bangladeshis came to India between 1959 and 1971.
What happened on the India-Bangladesh border yesterday?
More than 1000 Bangladeshi citizens gathered on the India-Bangladesh border on Wednesday. Most of them were Hindus. All these people had tried to infiltrate into the Indian border. But on receiving information, BSF personnel reached there and stopped this infiltration.
These Hindu Bangladeshis allege that their houses and temples are being burnt in Bangladesh. They want to take refuge in India. At the same time, there is doubt about this crowd of refugees that if Bangladeshi refugees enter India, it will affect the resources.
BSF’s high alert mode
Amidst the ongoing crisis in Bangladesh and alleged attacks on minorities, there is a fear that these minorities will try to enter the Indian border. A similar attempt was made on August 7, although the BSF foiled it in some parts of North Bengal.
On the afternoon of 7 August 2024, Bangladeshi citizens were seen gathering near the international border in two sectors. In one sector, BSF and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) pacified the people and sent them back. Everyone had gathered at the border. BSF has deployed additional forces on the border.
At the same time, in another sector, a group of villagers from Bangladesh reached near the international border, after which there was an uproar for some time. But BSF personnel immediately took control of the situation. BSF is currently on high alert.