“Good Fences make Great Neighbors.”
In the geopolitical context, neighborhood plays a significant role in providing “Development” a holistic meaning. The partition of the Indian Subcontinent in 1947 saw the emergence of Pakistan as a new Islamic Republic. However, linguistic differences, superiority complex of the Leaders of Pakistan over their Eastern Bloc saw the liberation movement for a separate country based on language, i.e., Bangladesh. After decades of uncertainties and bloodshed, the struggle culminated with Pakistan army surrendering to the Eastern Command of Indian army and Bangladesh becoming a separate nation in the December of 1971.
Since then, Bangladesh and India, the neighbors have their common historical interdependence, economic relations and cultural heritage. Over the years, transcending divergent political postures, both countries have been through their fair share of thick and thins. However, the illegal cross-country migration between the neighbors has been at the center of souring bilateral ties and regional tensions in South Asia.
Migration is a phenomenon that is defined by the population study professionals as movement of humans from one place to another with the intention of either permanent or temporary settlement. It has been a sociocultural phenomenon since the ice age among animals, and later in humans. The 1947 partition and the 1971 liberation war left many people struggling to find their home between the three countries. A report studying the illegal migration post 1971 Independence struggle suggests that approximately 20 lacs to 1.20 crores of Bangladeshi citizens migrated illegally to India for safety, livelihood, and freedom after the liberation war.
Illegal migration has been a multifaceted issue with complex socio-political and cultural consequences across the world. However, in this case, illegal migration with all its aforementioned caveats also has security and sovereignty consequences for both India and Bangladesh. Compounding these consequences with environmental impact, exclusionary economic policy frameworks and the refugee crisis, we have a concoction for a near-perfect human-made disaster. Striking the right balance between internal security concerns and humanitarian responsibility needs a collaborative effort towards in-depth understanding of the underlying causes of the migration and a need-based policy framework.
Roots of Migration: Historical Context
Historians claim that the history of Independence struggle has more often created a parallel history of displacement and migration across the globe. India as well as Bangladesh have had their share of first-hand experience to substantiate the claim. The commonalities between both the nations, highlight the socio-cultural ties and the linguistic heritage shared between them since the times of the Silk Road.
The 20th century witnessed the struggle for independence, liberation, and bloodshed in the Indian subcontinent. Migration followed soon after the Partition in 1947 and the liberation war for Bangladesh in 1971. However, we should never analyze a multifaceted issue such as migration in isolation. The potpourri of socio-political disruptions, economic disparities, and environmental changes is necessary to understand the underlying causes of migration. Furthermore, it should help realize the dream of striking a balance between national security discourse and humanitarian considerations for both India and Bangladesh.
Partition and Refugees
The inglorious British empire made sure to create havoc in the Indian subcontinent as the mark of their departure through dividing it into two nations, i.e., India and Pakistan. The partition being a bloody affair is an understatement in this context. Over 15 million people across the borders of the newly-created nations were displaced. The erstwhile Bengal province was divided as a revenge gift from the colonizers as East Bengal (Pakistan) and West Bengal (India).
The Bengal border experienced a steady mass migration due to religious tensions and socio-political instabilities. On the other hand, the Punjab border experienced a hatred-fueled violent mass migration. By the mid-1950s, more than 1.2 crore refugees were migrated to West Bengal alone due to communal persecution of the minority Hindu population in the East Pakistan. This culminated in the next two decades during the 1971 Liberation struggle for a separate nation, i.e., Bangladesh.
1971 Liberation War
The Bangladesh liberation war was a bloody affair and a stain in the history of South Asia. It triggered a mass migration of over 1 crore Bangladeshis to Indian border states to seek safety. The violent subjugation of minority Hindus of Bangladesh by the Pakistani army was the major factor behind this fear-led migration.
The then Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi supported Mujib-ur-Rahman, the liberation front leader for a separate Bangladesh. India extended its support by allowing the refugees to stay in the makeshift camps of the border states of Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal. The War ended in December of 1971, yet most of the refugees chose to stay back due to the fear of instability in a new nation. While the gesture of hosting the refugees earned goodwill on the global forum, it also increased the resource burden on these states.
Building Barriers or Bridging Borders: The Conundrum
The significance of sharing a long border with another country is known to India since the partition of 1947. The border with Bangladesh is one of the longest and most challenging terrains to monitor as it pans over 4096 kilometers along 5 major Indian states, i.e., Assam, West Bengal, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram. The border natives of both India and Bangladesh face significant challenges due to unpredictable weather events, communal tensions, and socio-cultural differences. The question remains on the priority between internal security imperatives and humanitarian concerns.
Security Concerns:
Illegal migration from Bangladesh over the years have created a growing concern for internal security in India. The porous border with Bangladesh is marked by an interesting combination of terrains, i.e., Wetlands, rivers, and forests. Such geographical constraints drive the border surveillance from India into a precarious situation. As per a 2019 research paper by M. Mayilvaganan, every year India is housing a staggering 50000 illegally migrated population from Bangladesh. Such a figure fuels the growing concerns over national security. Undocumented migrants could exploit their refugee status to carry out illicit activities such as human trafficking and smuggling arms and drugs.
Socio-economic Burdens
Migration has severe socioeconomic consequences for both the sending and receiving nation. In the context of India and Bangladesh, India faces a staggering $4bn annual loss due to undocumented migrants in terms of welfare services and loss of tax revenues. For a populous country like India, migration strains its already fragmented lands and housing infrastructure.
A recent report in Assam suggests that the illegal encroachment of private properties by the migrants has led to displacement of the local population. Migrants, especially the illegal ones, often engage themselves as cheap laborers in agriculture and construction works that results in the loss of employment opportunities for the local population in India. Though the minor discourses argue in the favor of migrants due to their contribution in the labor force, the lack of proper documentation negatively excludes them from availing government services and amenities.
Dilemma of Humanitarian Considerations
Ethical Concerns
From an ethical standpoint, India has its reservation towards the illegal migration from Bangladesh. Many illegal Bangladeshi migrants flee their country to escape poverty and instability. The non-documentation of these migrants leads to over-exploitation, exclusion from access to basic services, and human rights violations.
While we have discussed the economic burden that India faces due to illegal migrants, the more concerning problem is the resource strain and the subsequent issue with respect to the lack of social cohesion among the locals and the migrants. The exclusionary policies also accentuate the gap of integrating the illegal migrants into the mainstream society.
Demographic Constraints
Illegal migration has significant demographic impacts on the receiving nation. In India, the impact is profound on the bordering states of Assam, Tripura, and particularly in West Bengal. The illegal migrant influx has triggered a demographic shift and subsequent ethno-political turmoil in the bordering states. Lack of reliable refugee database and the absence of relevant institutional framework makes it more difficult to assess and formulate any migrant-specific development policies. More often than not, these illegal migrants are used as pawns for electoral gain by all political parties.
In Assam, the recent process of the National Register of Citizen (NRC) reveals a troubling trend of exclusion,i.e., approximately 19 lakhs out of 3.11 crores citizenship verification applicants were excluded. Such alarming statistics raise questions on the statelessness and lack of socio-political recognition of the illegal migrant population.
Climate Change and Illegal Migration
Climate change also plays a pivotal role in the migration discourse across the globe. The India-Bangladesh migration crisis is also driven by an environmental factor, i.e., rising sea levels. A more nuanced understanding of illegal migration would only emerge from a comprehensive analysis of the impacts of climate change on coastal regions of Bangladesh and India. There are two distinct ways to look at the profound impacts of climate change on illegal migration between India and Bangladesh, i.e., the unforgiving mother nature and the unsustainable policies.
Forced by Nature
One of the most climate-sensitive nations in the world, Bangladesh, has geographical constraints due to climate change and rising sea levels. Especially, the inhabitants of the islands of the Sundarbans face severe crises due to unpredictable weathers, floods, cyclones, and loss of livelihood due to decreased salinity of sea water. The uninhabitable living conditions and lack of rehabilitation policies often drive these people to cross the border in search of safety and stability in the Indian Border states.
A 2012 report on climate change and its impacts on Bangladesh highlights the dilapidated condition of its coastal population due to rising sea levels and the subsequent forced migration to India to seek refuge. These refugees are often ostracized as free-riders or piggy-riders in the bordering Indian states due to lack of policy framework to include them in the welfare policies.
Lack of an Inclusive Policy
Exclusionary policies would only give a partial definition to the concept of development. Climate refugees are one of the most vulnerable population across the globe and are in need of an urgent policy intervention to protect their rights and dignity. Stigmatization of these refugees has become a common practice in the refugee camps across the bordering Indian states and Delhi. These refugee camps are often looked down by the natives as a hotbed for criminal activities.
Lack of social security, recognition, and exclusionary policy frameworks drive many refugees into petty crimes to sustain themselves. The lack of a specific formal institution to monitor and regulate the existing refugee camps across India also makes the refugees vulnerable by making them a socio-economic limbo. Striking a balance on this grey patch requires more than just one dimensional policy revision. India has to play the role of a big sister here to guide Bangladesh in making a collaborative and inclusive policy for the climate refugees.
Striking a Balance between Security and Humanity
Finding the right recipe to balance the national security narrative with humanitarian considerations is a herculean task for both India and Bangladesh. Considering the complexities that illegal migration carries within and outside of itself, it would make sense to take a utilitarian logic to formulate policies for the refugees under the banner of “The Greatest good for the Greatest numbers.” However, the arguments for the national security and the increasing economic burden on the hosting nation, find a larger space in the discourse arena around the impacts of illegal migration.
Strengthening Border Security through Techno-Infra
Border security remains a critical priority for India as it shares a 4096-km-long border with Bangladesh. Border control and surveillance are of paramount essence when it comes to curbing the illegal migration. Trafficking, smuggling, and rebel forces are some of the major factors of the illegal migration from Bangladesh.
However, the less talked about consequence such as the rising juvenile sexual offenses in Delhi slums due to refugee influx also necessitates better border surveillance. Hence, improving border infrastructure with robust physical infrastructure such as barb-wire fencing with technology integration such as drone surveillance, face recognition technology, and heat maps could help curb the menace of illegal migration from Bangladesh.
Humanitarian Ethics
Radicalization of population in Bangladesh has been a migraine for India. Illegal migration happens due to persecution of minorities and the prevalence of organized crime networks. Hence, the migrants are often scoffed at and ignored by both the policymakers and the citizens in India. It is imperative to create an atmosphere of dignity for the hosting country for its refugees. Hence, empathy is the need of the hour for the stranded population.
India could create support groups and mobilize refugee-centric NGOs and CSOs to ensure basic necessities such as food, shelter, and right to healthcare are also available to the refugee population. Detentions and deportation processes of refugees should comply with the international human rights protocol. India could lead the world in efficient refugee management with the principles of “Atithi Devo Bhava”, i.e., Guests are equivalent to Gods.
A Collaborative Endeavour
Addressing the illegal migration issue can never be solved by a one-way effort. A collaborative endeavor is needed from both India and Bangladesh to comprehend the underlying reasons and formulate tailored policies with respect to illegal migration. Creating a joint task force could well be a right foot forward in the direction to ensure the balance between internal security and humanitarian considerations.
Both the countries could leverage regional multilateral institutions such as SAARC to formulate policies to manage cross-border movements that ensure shared responsibilities. Looking at migration only from the security lens could narrow the policies around the same. Policymakers should develop empathy to look at illegal migration as a socioeconomic and humanitarian caveat. Hence, addressing poverty and climate change like underlying reasons could help both the countries sustainably reduce the illegal movement and drive regional stability.
Conclusion
The emerging discourse around the impacts of illegal migration in the context of India and Bangladesh is poised well on a tight rope. On one end, the concern for national security and the resource strain is gaining momentum, whereas, on the other hand, humanitarian and ethical considerations around human rights of the migrated population is also finding the voice to accommodate itself in the discourse. The compounded effect of climate change is creating a precarious conundrum for both the neighbors.
It is critical to understand that illegal migration is not only a security caveat, but also have complex consequences in terms of human rights and relevant ethical nuances. Addressing illegal migration requires a multi-faceted and multi-stakeholder approach to understand the underlying causes and their respective consequences. Fostering a collaborative migration policy approach will help strengthen the bilateral relation between these South Asian neighbors. Striking a delicate balance between security and ethical responsibilities can transform this challenge into an opportunity to rekindle regional stability and peace in South Asia.
About the author …
Passionate about Sociology, Psychology, and Policy Making, Tarun combines academic insights with practical experience to address pressing societal challenges. His on-field with marginalised communities has been instrumental in shaping a commitment to inclusivity and equity in policy discourse.
Through a blend of research and storytelling, Tarun strives to create meaningful conversations that inspire change and advocate for a more just and inclusive society.
This article reeks of weakness, of spineless, appeasement-driven drivel that dares to justify the erosion of national identity under the guise of humanitarian concern! It is a betrayal, a pathetic, groveling attempt to whitewash an invasion disguised as migration! India is not a doormat for foreign masses to trample upon! The borders are sacred, the sovereignty non-negotiable, and yet this writer dares to suggest that the solution lies in “collaborative efforts” and “regional stability”?! Stability for whom?! The displaced native populations of Assam and Bengal, whose lands have been seized, whose jobs have been stolen, whose very existence is being diluted by an unrelenting demographic onslaught?! This article dares to pity those who violate our laws while conveniently ignoring the suffering of the very citizens who built this nation!
It speaks of “bridging borders” as if the floodgates should be thrown open, as if every opportunist looking for economic gain should be welcomed with open arms while the native-born are left to rot in poverty! It whimpers about “ethical concerns” and “dignity” for illegal migrants but dares not question the dignity of those who have been displaced in their own homeland! What of the Assamese whose villages have been overrun? What of the laborers in Bengal and Tripura who have been pushed into destitution? What of the rising crime rates, the unchecked radicalization, the festering ghettos that have sprung up like tumors on Indian soil?! The writer dances around these truths, hiding behind academic jargon and empty sentiments, because to acknowledge reality would be to admit that migration is not merely a phenomenon—it is a weapon!
Enough of this cowardice! Borders must be fortified with steel and fire! Deportations must be swift and merciless! The hand of the state must be ironclad, crushing this invasion before it reduces the nation to a fractured, lawless wasteland! This is not a question of “human rights”; this is a question of survival, of national identity, of ensuring that India belongs to Indians! The time for diplomacy is over! The time for action is now!
Hey Shreya,
I truly appreciate and respect the time and thought that you have invested to read my article. However, we can definitely have difference in opinions to create constructive and meaningful discourses around the aforementioned position that I have taken.
Cheers,
Have a Great day!