Illegal Migration From Bangladesh: Deportation, Border Fences and Work Permits

This monograph examines the Indian government’s perspective on the issue of infiltration/illegal from Bangladesh. It analyses the socio-economic and political impact of the presence of a large number of illegal Bangladeshi migrants on the receiving societies within India. It also studies the process of politicisation and securitisation of illegal migration by the political parties, and analyses the events and actions which have shaped the Indian policymakers’ attitude towards illegal migration. While critically evaluating the various measures taken by the government over the years to tackle the problem, the monograph also examines in details proposed solutions such as issuance of work permits and granting amnesty to the illegal migrants as measure to prevent illegal migration. In doing so, it brings forth the wider debates regarding work permits and amnesties, and studies the experiences of some select countries to judge the implications of such proposals. Based on these debates, the monograph argues that before considering proposals such as work permits, it has to be conclusively established that illegal migration occurs in response to demand for labour, otherwise it would result in depressing wages leading to greater hostilities against illegal migrants.

About The Author

Dr Pushpita Das is Research Fellow and Coordinator of the Internal Security Centre at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi. Her areas of interest include border studies, border security and management, coastal security, drug trafficking, migration and India’s Northeast. At IDSA, she has been studying India’s approach towards the management of its international borders. She has also been co-opted as an expert by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on projects on Coastal Security. Dr Das has written extensively on her areas of research and has delivered lectures at a number of training institutes including the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration, Mussoorie; Naval War College, Mumbai; Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad; Sardar Patel Institute for Public Administration, Ahmedabad; and Royal Institute for Governance and Strategic Studies, Bhutan, apart from participating in national and international seminars. She holds a Doctorate from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

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