Guwahati, 9th August: In response to the recent turmoil in Bangladesh, Assam’s Director General of Police, Gyanendra Pratap Singh, announced on Thursday that Indian passport holders will be permitted to return from Bangladesh through specific entry points in Assam. Following a law and order review meeting, Singh emphasized that both Assam Police and the Border Security Force (BSF) are committed to preventing any illegal entry attempts by non-Indians.
Singh revealed that during the disturbances last month, 78 students, including 60 from Assam, safely returned from Bangladesh. He reiterated that only those with valid Indian passports would be allowed to enter, warning that legal action would be taken against any illegal entrants.
Assam shares a 267.5 km border with Bangladesh across the districts of Karimganj, Cachar, Dhubri, and South Salmara-Mankachar. The state has an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Sutarkandi in Karimganj, alongside two other ICPs in the Northeast—Dawki in Meghalaya and Akhaura in Tripura.
To ensure the situation remains under control, Singh mentioned that regular monitoring is in place, with video conferences conducted between Assam’s Superintendents of Police (SPs) and BSF officials. The Additional Chief Secretary (Home) of Assam has also held discussions with district officials and the BSF. Joint patrolling by BSF and Assam Police continues along the international border.
These security measures come in the wake of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation on August 5, following widespread student protests against a job quota system, which resulted in over 500 deaths, including police personnel.