The Spark: Dhaka's Strong Diplomatic Protest

On April 30, 2026, Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs took a decisive step by summoning acting Indian High Commissioner Pawan Badhe to lodge a formal protest. The trigger was recent comments from Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the handling of alleged illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Director General for South Asia, Ishrat Jahan, conveyed Dhaka's deep displeasure, labeling the remarks as disparaging to the longstanding bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries. This move underscores the sensitivity surrounding border management and migration, issues that have periodically strained ties despite shared history and economic interdependence.

The summoning occurred amid ongoing efforts to stabilize India-Bangladesh relations following political upheavals in Dhaka. With Bangladesh under a new administration led by Tarique Rahman after elections in February 2026, both sides had shown signs of reconciliation, including high-level meetings and resumed visa services. However, Sarma's blunt articulation of Assam's pushback tactics reignited tensions, prompting Bangladesh to urge restraint in public discourse on bilateral matters.

Sarma's Unfiltered Remarks: 'Push Them Back at Night'

Himanta Biswa Sarma, a vocal proponent of stringent border controls, elaborated on Assam's approach in an interview with ABP News and subsequent social media posts. He explained the practical challenges of formal deportations, noting that official channels through India's Ministry of External Affairs often hit roadblocks as Bangladesh declines to accept returnees without clear documentation. 'If I want to send them back officially, I will have to approach the MEA. The MEA will then send details to Bangladesh. It then depends solely on Bangladesh to decide whom they want to take back,' Sarma stated.

To circumvent this, Assam authorities, in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF), resort to direct pushbacks. Sarma described the process vividly: 'We take them to a convenient location near the border, and literally push them (dhakka marna padega) across the border' by exploiting nighttime hours when Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) presence is minimal. On April 26, he tweeted about a specific operation: 'Rude people don't understand soft language... these 20 illegal Bangladeshis who were PUSHED BACK last night.' This transparency, intended to reassure Assam's residents, was perceived in Dhaka as provocative.

Sarma also linked migration control to diplomacy, asserting, 'When relations are good, the Indian government also does not want to push back illegal migrants. Therefore, people of Assam feel good when there is a hostile atmosphere between India and Bangladesh.' Such candor highlights the domestic pressures driving Assam's policy but risks broader diplomatic fallout.

Assam's Pushback Operations: A Timeline of Actions

Assam's pushback policy under Sarma's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government has intensified since 2021, rooted in the state's long battle against demographic changes. Key incidents include:

• January 2026: 15 Bangladeshi nationals pushed back from border districts.
• March 2026: 21 illegal migrants returned, emphasizing use of the 1950 Immigrants (Expulsion from Assam) Act.
• April 25, 2026: 20 individuals apprehended overnight and sent across, prompting Sarma's tweet.

By late 2024, Assam had identified over 1.65 lakh illegal immigrants statewide, with thousands deported or pushed back. The strategy bypasses lengthy Foreigners Tribunals by empowering District Magistrates to issue expulsion orders, invoking a Supreme Court judgment from October 2024. While effective locally, it raises humanitarian concerns, with reports of Indian citizens mistakenly targeted.

Historical Roots: Migration Waves into Assam

Illegal migration from Bangladesh to Assam dates back to the 1950s, accelerating post-1971 Liberation War and during Bangladesh's economic crises in the 1980s. The Assam Agitation (1979-1985) protested this influx, leading to the Assam Accord of 1985, which set March 24, 1971, as the citizenship cut-off. The National Register of Citizens (NRC) in 2019 excluded 19 lakh people, fueling debates.

Estimates vary: Official figures cite 1,421 pushbacks in 2025 alone, while unofficial counts suggest thousands annually. Bangladesh denies large-scale outflows, attributing detections to Indian domestic politics. Porous 267-km border in Assam facilitates crossings via riverine routes like the Brahmaputra.

Demographic Anxieties: Changing Assam's Face

Migration has altered Assam's demographics profoundly. In 1951, Muslims comprised 24.68% of the population; by 2011, 34.22%. Lower Assam districts like Dhubri (79.67% Muslim) exemplify shifts, sparking fears of cultural erosion among indigenous Assamese. Sarma warns of Assam becoming 'part of Bangladesh' if unchecked, a narrative resonating amid Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) implementations excluding Muslims.

These changes fuel identity politics, with migrants accused of vote-bank manipulation. While some are pre-1971 migrants eligible for citizenship, distinguishing illegal entrants remains contentious.

Photo by Sourav Debnath on Unsplash

Economic Strain and Security Risks

Economically, migrants compete for low-skill jobs, depressing wages in agriculture and construction by up to 20-30% in affected areas. Public resources like schools and healthcare stretch thin, exacerbating unemployment among locals at 5.3% in 2026.

Security-wise, links to insurgency persist: United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) historically exploited grievances over migration. Recent concerns involve radicalization, smuggling, and cattle trafficking, costing India billions annually. Assam's operations aim to mitigate these, but pushbacks risk retaliation or humanitarian crises.

Bilateral Ties: From Golden Era to Current Strains

India-Bangladesh relations, forged in 1971, peaked under Sheikh Hasina (2009-2024) with infrastructure deals like the Akhaura-Agartala rail link. Hasina's ouster in August 2024, fleeing to India, soured ties under interim leader Muhammad Yunus. BNP's 2026 victory prompted a reset: Modi-Rahman letters, diesel supplies amid Middle East crises, and resumed visas.

Persistent irritants include Teesta water-sharing, Rohingya repatriation, and non-tariff barriers on Bangladeshi exports. Migration remains a flashpoint, with India viewing it as existential, Bangladesh as exaggerated.

Reactions Across the Spectrum

In India, BJP leaders back Sarma, framing pushbacks as sovereign rights. Opposition Congress criticizes as inflammatory, risking ties. Assam parties like AGP support, while AIUDF calls it anti-Muslim rhetoric.

Bangladesh media portrays it as interference, urging New Delhi to rein in Sarma. Public sentiment mixes nationalism with economic pragmatism, given India's role as top trading partner ($16 billion bilateral trade in 2025).

Expert Perspectives: Balancing Security and Diplomacy

Analysts like former diplomat Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty note pushbacks violate non-refoulement principles but reflect ground realities. Think tanks advocate joint border patrols, biometric fencing, and economic aid to Bangladesh's border districts to stem outflows.

India Today's analysis on bilateral thaw highlights risks to reset.

Towards Resolution: Proposed Solutions

• Enhanced BSF-BGB coordination via real-time data sharing.
• Reviving Land Boundary Agreement implementations for enclaves.
• Development packages for Bangladeshi border areas to reduce push factors like poverty.
• Fast-track NRC appeals with international observers for transparency.
• Diplomatic channels to affirm migration concerns without rhetoric.

Stakeholders urge maturity: Assam secures borders, Dhaka cooperates on returns, New Delhi mediates.

Photo by ILIAS SAMI on Unsplash

Outlook: Navigating Turbulent Waters

This row tests the resilience of improving ties. With Assam polls looming in 2026, Sarma's stance bolsters BJP's base, but national diplomacy demands nuance. Successful navigation could model cooperative border management; failure risks escalation. As neighbors, collaborative solutions on migration, trade, and security hold the key to enduring peace.