Tue Jun 17 16:53:59 UTC 2025: **News Article Summary:**
Two more migrant workers from West Bengal, Fazer Mandal and his wife Taslima Mandal, have been repatriated to the state after being allegedly pushed into Bangladesh by the Border Security Force (BSF). They were initially arrested in Maharashtra on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. This incident follows a similar case earlier in the week, bringing the total number of repatriated workers to five. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused BJP-led governments of targeting Bengali-speaking citizens and falsely labeling them as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. A Trinamool Congress MP also alleges that the deported workers possessed valid Indian documents and questions the actions of the Maharashtra Police and BSF, suggesting a larger plan to harass Bengali-speaking migrant workers.
**News Article:**
**Migrant Workers Repatriated to West Bengal After Alleged BSF Deportation**
**Kolkata, June 17, 2025** – Two more migrant workers from West Bengal, Fazer Mandal and his wife Taslima Mandal, have been returned to the state after allegedly being deported to Bangladesh by the Border Security Force (BSF). The couple, residents of North 24 Parganas district, were apprehended in Maharashtra under suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. The Border Guard Bangladesh handed them over to the BSF following a flag meeting along the International Border in Uttar Dinajpur district.
This incident follows a similar case on Sunday, bringing the total number of repatriated workers this week to five. The workers were initially detained in Maharashtra and Mumbai before being transferred to the BSF, who allegedly pushed them across the border into Bangladesh.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly condemned the incidents, accusing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments of targeting Bengali-speaking citizens and falsely labeling them as illegal immigrants, despite holding valid documentation.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam, Chairperson of the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, echoed Banerjee’s concerns. He stated that the deported workers possessed all necessary proof of Indian citizenship and questioned the Maharashtra Police’s decision to hand them over to the BSF without informing the West Bengal government. Islam also criticized the BSF for not verifying the workers’ identities before deporting them.
“Is there a larger plan for these BJP-ruled States and the BSF to target and harass Bengali-speaking migrant workers?” Islam asked on social media, vowing to expose the forces behind what he called a “misdeed” and ensure justice for the affected workers.
The incident has sparked a political controversy, raising concerns about the treatment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in India and the coordination between different state and federal agencies. The TMC has vowed to pursue the matter further.
First Piper 