Gruesome Murder: Issue of Bangladeshi Migrants

Lately, most of us have been busy or occupied with Politics and Elections surrounding us like a saga unfolding everyday with twists, turns and sometimes surprises. The outcome of the most awaited, most /read watched and anticipated event of our universe is expected soon. But many of us might have failed to notice or pay equal attention to another event/incident which has emanated on the Indian soil – the gruesome murder of Anwarul Azim Anar, Hon’ble Member of Parliament from Bangladesh. He was 56-year-old, a three-time Awami League MP from Bangladesh’s Jhenaidah-4, who had come to Kolkata on May 12 seeking medical treatment. The gory details of the incident are such that soon someone will adapt it for a screenplay in a web series on OTT or a full-fledged cinema.

It is important to note that the MP comes from neighboring country Bangladesh on a visit to Kolkata, stays there (Baranagar) with his friend, a gold trader. He ventures out for medical treatment, ends up at another locality, a posh area (Sanjeeva Gardens), where he gets murdered in the most gruesome manner ever seen or heard in past few years. The body was chopped into pieces and disposed of at different locations, one of them being – Bagjola canal. Then there’s another area – Bhangar region. It is also known as khunir desh (land of murderers) because of the presence of Bangladeshi criminals. As per the developments, culprits (murderers) are Bangladeshi nationals, and the main conspirator is alleged to be a U.S. citizen of Bangladeshi origin.

Important questions raised – What was the reason? How did it happen? Most notable – Why did it happen on Indian soil?

This incident yet again raises the most important question. Why are we unbale to stop illegal Bangladeshi immigrants? Here are some serious concerns and threats posed by the issue –

• Over the years, there have been varying estimates regarding the number of Bangladeshi immigrants residing illegally in India.
• In 2004, then Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sriprakash Jaiswal, claimed that there were 12 million illegal Bangladeshis in India.
• More recently, the Indian government informed the Rajya Sabha that approximately 2 crore (20 million) Bangladeshi immigrants are staying illegally in India.
• The debate often intersects with vote-bank politics and concerns about resources.
• The arrival of a substantial number of illegal immigrants’ strains India’s resources, including housing, healthcare, education and employment opportunities.
• Overpopulation in certain regions exacerbates existing infrastructure limitations.
• The presence of undocumented immigrants raises security concerns.
• Some illegal immigrants engage in criminal activities, such as drug sales, human trafficking, and other illicit practices.
• The issue of illegal immigration often leads to social tensions.
• These tensions can strain social cohesion and create divisions within society.

It is time our government took a serious note of the situation and found solution to this long pending issue.