Suvendu's deportation claims: Dhaka ties sink even as numbers don't add up

Kolkata: Suvendu Adhikari, a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, has alleged that Bangladesh is deporting a large number of Indian citizens. His claims have intensified diplomatic tensions between New Delhi and Dhaka.

Adhikari stated that over 1,000 people have been deported from Bangladesh to India in recent weeks. However, official figures from the Border Security Force and the Bangladesh Border Guards do not support this number. Records show only a fraction of that figure has been processed through official channels.

The discrepancy has raised questions about the accuracy of the claims. Analysts suggest that the actual number of deportations is much lower, and that Adhikari's statements may be politically motivated ahead of local elections in West Bengal.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not officially commented on the matter. Bangladesh's foreign ministry has denied any large-scale deportations, calling the claims baseless and harmful to bilateral relations.

The episode comes at a time when India and Bangladesh have been working to strengthen ties on trade, security, and connectivity. Experts warn that such unverified allegations could undermine the progress made in recent years.