Long Queues At Bangladesh Border Seen As Hundreds Return After Suvendu Adhikari's 'Jaldi Jaldi Bhago' Warning

West Bengal leader Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday said long queues were seen at border checkpoints in North 24 Parganas as hundreds of suspected illegal migrants moved towards the Bangladesh border, following what he described as intensified enforcement and his earlier “jaldi jaldi bhago” remark.

Adhikari said the individuals gathered at the Hakimpur checkpoint in the Basirhat subdivision were reportedly willing to return to Bangladesh and should be deported promptly under the Foreigners Act , which he said already provides sufficient legal backing for action.

He claimed that authorities have been instructed to ensure that illegal foreign nationals are not lodged in jails , and instead processed through appropriate deportation mechanisms. He also said coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) Border Security Force has been strengthened to facilitate handover procedures at the border.

Adhikari further stated that apprehended individuals should be directly handed over to border authorities rather than being produced before courts, citing existing administrative arrangements for handling such cases.

He alleged that previous governments had weakened enforcement of immigration laws due to vote-bank politics , and said the current approach prioritises stricter action against illegal infiltration.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has reportedly ordered the setting up of holding centres in all districts to house apprehended foreigners and released foreign prisoners until deportation formalities are completed. Officials said the centres are part of a structured process for verification and repatriation.

Reports from border areas suggest that long queues and increased movement were seen at Hakimpur and adjoining checkpoints , with many individuals attempting to return to Bangladesh amid the ongoing enforcement drive. Authorities are continuing verification and coordination with border agencies.

The development comes amid reports describing a broader “reverse exodus” trend along parts of the India-Bangladesh border in West Bengal following intensified detection and deportation measures under the state’s “detect, delete and deport” policy .