The Home and Hill Affairs Department of the West Bengal government has issued a fresh directive to all District Magistrates asking them to initiate the setting up of holding centres for apprehended foreign nationals and released foreign prisoners awaiting deportation or repatriation.
According to the official communication issued by the department, the move is aimed at streamlining the deportation procedure for Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas allegedly staying illegally in India.
The letter stated, “Regarding the procedure to be followed for deportation of Bangladeshi/Rohingyas apprehended for staying illegally in this country. In this connection it is requested to take initiative/appropriate action for setting up of Holding Centres in the district for apprehended foreigners as well as for the released foreign prisoners awaiting deportation/repatriation in accordance with the MHA guideline under reference.”
The directive has been sent to District Magistrates across the state as part of an administrative mechanism linked to guidelines issued earlier by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
The development comes amid an intensified crackdown on illegal immigration and border infiltration in West Bengal over the past several weeks. Recent administrative and policing measures have focused on identifying undocumented migrants, particularly those allegedly entering through the India-Bangladesh border.
Earlier this week, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators not covered under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) framework would be handed over directly to the Border Security Force (BSF) for deportation instead of being produced before courts.
Officials said the new process is intended to speed up detention and deportation procedures while ensuring separate arrangements for foreigners awaiting repatriation after completion of prison terms or legal formalities.
The issue of detention facilities for foreign nationals had also recently come under judicial scrutiny. Earlier this month, the Calcutta High Court raised concerns over foreign nationals remaining in correctional homes even after completing their sentences due to delays in deportation procedures.
West Bengal shares one of India’s longest international borders with Bangladesh, and border infiltration has remained a politically sensitive issue in the state for years. Security agencies have recently reported multiple operations against alleged illegal entry networks and cross-border movement along border districts including North 24 Parganas, Cooch Behar and Murshidabad.
No official figures were immediately released regarding the number of holding centres planned or the timeline for their operationalisation.