India Plans to Take Back Stranded Citizens from Bangladesh

The West Bengal Government is carrying out plans for the return of 2,680 Indian people stuck in Bangladesh across its borders.

The state began the process after the Centre sent a second letter requesting the same, reports The Indian Express.

However, the state wants the Centre to facilitate screening of those seeking to return. 

The 2,680 Indians, 2,399 of whom are citizens of Bengal, are mainly labourers who have been stranded in Bangladesh since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown in March. A few weeks ago, the Centre asked Bengal to allow them to access two of its six land border points with Bangladesh.

In a letter to Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, the Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Vikram Doraiswami said, "Our Mission in Dhaka has once again reported that 2,399 people are seeking to return to West Bengal from Bangladesh through the Petrapole-Benapole integrated check post and further 281 citizens are seeking to do so through the Phulbari-Banglabandha land border."

A senior West official of Bengal Secretariat  confirmed that they were working out the formalities, adding, "The Centre must ensure screening is carried out before they return…"