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The protest programme, announced by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami under the leadership of Shafiqur Rahman, includes demonstrations in border districts and key frontier points across Bangladesh on Friday, June 12, followed by a large rally and procession in Dhaka on June 15. The announcement was made at a press conference held at Jamaat-e-Islami’s central office in Dhaka.
According to AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, coordinator of the 11-party alliance and assistant secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islami, the alliance will organise rallies across all border districts and important frontier locations as part of its coordinated mobilisation. He further stated that seminars will be conducted in multiple districts, along with a roundtable discussion in Dhaka as part of the broader campaign strategy.
The alliance, which also includes Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Nizam-e-Islam Party, Amar Bangladesh Party, Jatiya Ganatantrik Party, and other opposition groups, was formed ahead of Bangladesh’s general election scheduled for February 12. The coalition has intensified its political messaging around border security and alleged cross-border violations.
Speaking at the same press conference, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwari claimed that residents living near the border “zero line” are facing a humanitarian crisis. He urged strengthening the Border Guard Bangladesh to prevent alleged push-ins and called on frontier communities to form a “human shield” to prevent entry of “terrorists, smugglers, or criminals” into Bangladesh.
The Jamaat-led alliance has alleged that more than 50 push-in incidents occurred along the border over the past three months. AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad claimed that during March, April, and May, attempts were made to push 2,479 individuals into Bangladesh through various border points, adding that the actual figure could be higher.
He further alleged that 19 Bangladeshi nationals were killed and 24 injured in firing by India’s Border Security Force during the first 100 days of the current BNP government. He also claimed that 83 individuals were detained or forcibly taken away by the Border Security Force and Myanmar’s Arakan Army. Azad declared that “push-ins will be resisted at any cost.”
The announcement comes amid heightened political sensitivity in Bangladesh over allegations of cross-border push-ins, an issue that has reportedly been raised during the 57th Director General-level talks between the Border Guard Bangladesh and India’s Border Security Force held in New Delhi from June 8 to June 11.
India has firmly rejected the characterization of these incidents as push-ins, stating that it is carrying out repatriation of illegal foreign nationals strictly through established legal procedures and bilateral arrangements. New Delhi maintains that only verified illegal migrants are being repatriated after due verification.
Responding to concerns raised by Bangladeshi officials, the Ministry of External Affairs of India stated that Bangladesh should expedite nationality verification processes to ensure smooth repatriation under existing frameworks. India reiterated that all illegal foreign nationals residing in the country must be repatriated in accordance with its laws and bilateral agreements.
Reports also indicate ongoing enforcement efforts in Indian states bordering Bangladesh, including West Bengal and Assam, where thousands of individuals identified as illegal immigrants are being processed for repatriation through holding centres.
India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-kilometre-long border, the longest international boundary India has with any country. As diplomatic discussions continue between New Delhi and Dhaka over border management and migration issues, the Jamaat-led alliance’s decision to take the matter to the streets signals a sharp escalation of political tensions, shifting the dispute from official negotiations to mass public mobilisation.
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