Reverse Migration in Bengal 2025: In November 2025, the border village of Hakimpur in North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, witnessed a phenomenon described by locals as “history coming full circle.” For decades, Hakimpur was a sanctuary for refugees fleeing violence in East Pakistan during Partition (1947) and again during the Bangladesh Liberation War (1971). Today, however, the flow has reversed: undocumented Bangladeshi migrants are voluntarily walking back across the border into Bangladesh, fearing exposure during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

2. The Trigger: Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls

The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched the SIR across West Bengal in November 2025. BLOs (Booth Level Officers) began door‑to‑door verification of voter records, scrutinizing documents such as voter ID, Aadhaar, and ration cards. For undocumented migrants who had lived for years on forged papers or borrowed identities, the risk of detection became too high.

Rather than face legal consequences, many chose to quietly return to Bangladesh, carrying belongings in polythene bags tied to bamboo poles.

3. Reverse Migration in Bengal 2025: Voices from the Ground

Local elders and residents described the unprecedented sight:

• Haripada Mondal (79): “I have never seen so many illegal Bangladeshis waiting to return. They know they have no documents, so they are going back on their own.”
• Animesh Majumdar (84): Recalled cooking rice for refugees under a banyan tree in 1971. Today, he watched migrants gather under the same tree, preparing to leave.
• Ajay Pal (70): “All my life I have seen only inflow, from 1947 to 1971 and even later. This is the first time I am watching people queue up to go back. It is unsettling.”

These testimonies highlight the emotional resonance of the reversal, linking present events to historical memory.

4. Community Response: Feeding the Departing Migrants

Despite the reversal, the village’s humanitarian instinct remained unchanged. Residents lined up with utensils, thermos flasks, puffed rice, biscuits, lentils, and tea to feed departing migrants. As shopkeeper Mantu Mondal (50) explained: “You feed anyone who is needy on this road — that is our rule. In 1971, people were entering. Today, people are leaving. But feeding them remains constant.”

This continuity of compassion underscores the shared humanity across borders, even amid political and legal complexities.

5. Migrants’ Perspective: Fear of Verification

Migrants admitted their decision was pragmatic:

• Shahidul (32): Worked in a brick kiln in Bongaon using a borrowed ID. “I cannot show any legal papers. Better to return before the checks begin.”

Most were daily wage laborers from Bangladesh’s Khulna, Satkhira, Bagerhat, and Jessore districts, who had crossed illegally years ago for work.

6. Security Forces Confirm the Trend

Border Security Force (BSF) personnel reported a sharp increase in reverse crossings since mid‑November. They emphasized that the movement was voluntary, not forced, with migrants openly admitting their undocumented status.

7. Historical Context: From Inflow to Outflow

Hakimpur’s story is deeply tied to South Asian history:

• 1947 Partition: Refugees fled communal violence in East Pakistan.
• 1971 Liberation War: Thousands escaped Operation Searchlight and Pakistani army atrocities.
• Post‑1971 decades: Economic migrants continued to cross into India.

For seventy years, the border belt saw inflows. The current reversal marks a unique moment in history.

8. Governance Challenges

The reverse migration highlights several governance issues:

• Electoral integrity: Ensuring rolls are free of illegal entries.
• Border management: Preventing future undocumented crossings.
• Humanitarian concerns: Managing voluntary returns with dignity.
• Community dynamics: Balancing compassion with legal enforcement.

9. Political Implications

The phenomenon has political ramifications:

• BJP narrative: May highlight the reversal as proof of strict verification.
• TMC concerns: Could raise humanitarian issues and criticize stress on BLOs.
• Electoral stakes: North 24 Parganas is politically sensitive, making the SIR a flashpoint.

10. Broader Lessons for Policy

Experts suggest:

• Strengthening border infrastructure.
• Ensuring fair verification processes that do not harass genuine citizens.
• Providing legal clarity on voluntary returns.
• Documenting migration patterns for future policy.

11. Conclusion: History Moves Outward

As dusk settled on Hakimpur, silhouettes of migrants disappeared into fading light. Villager Ajay Pal summed it up: “This road brought thousands in. Today it is sending them back.”

The Reverse Migration in Bengal 2025 is more than a local event; it is a symbolic turning point in South Asian migration history, shaped by electoral governance, border politics, and human resilience.

🔗 Government External Links

For further reading and official updates, here are relevant government sources:

• Election Commission of India (ECI – Electoral Roll Management): https://eci.gov.in
• Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal: https://ceowestbengal.nic.in
• Ministry of Home Affairs – Border Management Division: https://mha.gov.in
• Press Information Bureau (Government of India): https://pib.gov.in
• National Register of Citizens (NRC – Policy Documents): https://registerofcitizens.assam.gov.in

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