The State Government has failed to respond to consular visit requests to jails from the Office of the Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Guwahati, even after receiving approval from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). In the past month, the Home and Political Department has not addressed four requests for these visits, all submitted in December 2025 and now facing expiration.
This marks the first time such delays have occurred since the Consular Office was established in 2017, according to a source familiar with the matter. Consular access is essential for verifying the backgrounds of individuals declared Bangladeshi nationals by the Court. Once verified, the Consular Office can issue the necessary Travel Permit (TP) to assist in the deportation process.
Records indicate that over 650 TPs have been issued in the last eight years to facilitate the repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals. Currently, approximately 45 declared Bangladeshi nationals are being held in four detention facilities across Assam: 16 in Guwahati Central Jail, 12 in Dhubri district jail, with the remaining individuals housed in Karimganj district jail and the Matia detention camp in Goalpara.
This situation arises amid the State Government’s recent emphasis on a “push back” policy regarding foreign nationals. Observers attribute the lack of responsiveness to increased tensions in the Indo-Bangla relationship. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has stated that all individuals identified as foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunals (FTs) would face immediate deportation within a week.
Official figures reveal that from May 2021 to November 2025, a total of 1,517 foreigners were deported. During this timeframe, 59,757 cases were resolved by the FTs, while 77,883 cases remain pending. Of these, 30,264 people were declared foreigners and 15,359 were ruled “not foreigners.” Currently, 100 FTs are operational in Assam.
