In the pre-dawn hours of 7 November Assam Police and the Border Security Force escorted 19 Bangladeshi nationals across the Sutarkandi integrated check-post, completing one of the largest single-day deportations this year. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the operation on social platform X, reiterating the state government’s “zero-tolerance for illegal infiltration.”
State investigators said the group had been detained over several months in Dhubri, Karimganj and Cachar districts after overstaying visas or entering without papers. Fast-track courts ordered deportation under the Passport Act and Foreigners Act; coordination with Bangladesh allowed formal repatriation ahead of Dhaka’s parliamentary elections, when cross-border movement typically rises.
![Assam quietly deports 19 Bangladeshi nationals, underscores zero-tolerance stance on illegal entry]()
The action highlights accelerating enforcement in India’s Northeast where porous riverine borders challenge mobility compliance. For companies operating tea estates, road-construction projects or hydropower sites close to the frontier, the message is clear: expect more documentation checks at work camps and ensure contractors vet worker identity thoroughly.
Assam shares 267 kilometres of border with Bangladesh and has announced plans for an electronic fence and additional biometrics-enabled checkpoints by mid-2026. While business visas and legitimate workforce mobility remain unaffected, project-leaders should budget extra time for security clearances and employee movement passes.
State investigators said the group had been detained over several months in Dhubri, Karimganj and Cachar districts after overstaying visas or entering without papers. Fast-track courts ordered deportation under the Passport Act and Foreigners Act; coordination with Bangladesh allowed formal repatriation ahead of Dhaka’s parliamentary elections, when cross-border movement typically rises.
The action highlights accelerating enforcement in India’s Northeast where porous riverine borders challenge mobility compliance. For companies operating tea estates, road-construction projects or hydropower sites close to the frontier, the message is clear: expect more documentation checks at work camps and ensure contractors vet worker identity thoroughly.
Assam shares 267 kilometres of border with Bangladesh and has announced plans for an electronic fence and additional biometrics-enabled checkpoints by mid-2026. While business visas and legitimate workforce mobility remain unaffected, project-leaders should budget extra time for security clearances and employee movement passes.
