By Isaac Harold Gomes
Kolkata, June 21, 2026: A clandestine network of agents and officials turned illegal immigration into a billion-rupee industry along the Indo-Bangladesh border, with insiders revealing decades of infiltration, forged documents, and staggering profits now disrupted by political change.
Anandabazar.com, through its June 16, report, has brought to light a mindboggling saga of a flourishing illegal trade of mass immigration of Bangladeshis into West Bengal.
The investigation details how infiltration became an “industry” over decades, with networks of agents, corrupt Panchayat leaders, and municipal officials facilitating entry and settlement.
Sirajul (name changed), a resident of Swarupnagar in North 24 Parganas, just four kilometers from the Indo-Bangladesh border, disclosed the inner workings of the trade.
For 20 years, he ran a business codenamed “Dhoor Parapar” — “Dhoor” meaning illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and “Parapar” meaning facilitating their sneaking into West Bengal.
He admitted, “There are ‘ghat-parties’ on both sides of the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Those intending to enter India from Bangladesh would pay the ‘ghat-party’ of Bangladesh, 15,000 Bangladeshi Taka per person.” Payments were often transferred via Bikash, a Bangladeshi UPI app.
Operations and coordination
Sirajul explained that between Hakimpur and nearby areas, five points alone saw 30–35 infiltrators daily, amounting to nearly 1,000 people monthly. With hundreds of such “ghats” statewide, infiltration peaked in Bongaon and Malda-Murshidabad sectors.
• Indian agents earned ₹2,000 per infiltrator, with ₹500 each for linemen and guides.
• Monthly turnover per ghat: ₹600,000 lakh.
• Statewide turnover: ₹700–800 million monthly.
• Over 20 years, this translates to ₹160–180 billion and an estimated 15.5 million infiltrators settling in India.
A police officer, speaking anonymously, alleged that a former Panchayat Pradhan of Sharapul-Nirman continued issuing forged certificates even after leaving office.
His documents were so convincing they fooled not only Indian authorities but even U.S. immigration checks. Prices ranged from ₹10,000–15,000 per certificate, with profits shared among local staff at administrative offices.
Sirajul lamented that his business collapsed after the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) was rolled out on November 4, 2025, and following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s electoral victory.
He said, “Business happened only if we could slip past the BSF [Border Security Force]; if we got caught, there was nothing to be done — the money would be lost.”
The crackdown has also halted corrupt Panchayat and municipal officials who issued Aadhaar identity card, voter ID, and income tax cards to infiltrators.
The revelations raise troubling questions about the scale of infiltration and its impact on social security benefits, voter rolls, and national security. With estimates suggesting over 15 million infiltrators in two decades, observers warn this may be only the tip of the iceberg.
(Photo supplied)
Isaac’s report on estimated entry of 1.55 crore illegal entry of Bangladeshis into West Bengal (and therefore India), is quite true in light of a report in the Statesman Kolkata date 25.06.2026. The report stated that three suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators who had allegedly obtained Electoral Photo Identify Cards (EPICs) through fraudulent means, were detained by Kalna (East Burdwan) police on Wednesday 24th June 2026. They are Rafiq Sheikh alias Siraj, his wife Zarina Sheikh, and Hanif Sheikh. They were picked up from Tantipara under Satgachia Gram Panchayat for questioning following discrepancies in voter records in the locality.
According to police sources Rafiq and Zarina admitted during interrogation that they had crossed over from Bangladesh several years ago and subsequently procured voter cards with the assistance of a local youth Selim Sheikh, in exchange for money (this admission tallies with Isaac’s report of Bangladeshi infiltrators obtaining Indian ID cards from corrupt government officials, in exchange for money ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000 per head). It is claimed the trio had cast votes in the 2026 Assembly Elections without being flagged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls!
Police have launched a detailed investigation into the alleged document fraud and the possible involvement of local facilitators.
But the die is cast. Thanks to the patronage of the erstwhile government, already at least 1.55 crore Bangladeshis have infiltrated into India (as estimated by Isaac) to change the demography. Now the new entry points for Bangladeshis into Bengal are Indo-Nepal borders in Panitanki (near Siliguri) where and Raxaul (Bihar). Several Bangladeshis have been arrested in Panitanki where security has been heightened.
West Bengal shares 2216.7 km border with Bangladesh. Of this 1647.69 km has been fenced. Of the remaining 569.04 km, fencing of 456.22 km is feasible, whereas for the balance 112.78 km, fencing is not feasible (rivers, etc.). The new government is fast-tracking handover this land to the BSF.
Readers may read the following link in the Telegraph of 24.06.2026:
https://epaper.telegraphindia.com/calcutta-edition/29/2026-06-24/page-5/article-1855859903.html
Isaac’s report in an eye-opener. Going by his calculation at least 1.55 crore Bangladeshis infiltrated into India and were not filtered/scanned in SIR as they have become Indian citizens by procuring false documents of birth, domicile, Aadhaar, PAN and Voters Cards thanks to the connivance of government officials (aligned to the Trinamool regime) at Panchayat and district levels. It’s a very meticulously organised crime to weaken India as these infiltrators have been enjoying all the social security benefits, which under normal circumstances, depriving genuine Indian citizens.
According to the Bengali Statesman of 22 June 2026, the Border Security Force (BSF) is putting up extra vigil at Chicken’s Neck and rivers to prevent infiltration of Bangladeshis and smuggling during monsoon. Drones, thermal imagers and underwater sensors have been deployed in the Indo-Bangladesh border rivers namely the Teesta, Aatreyi and the Ganga. In all there are 56 rivers which make patrolling during monsoon very difficult for the BSF, even with speedboats. Infiltrators from Bangladesh try to cross the turbulent rivers during peak monsoon. Underwater sensors help detect infiltration under the river waters. Thermal imagers and AI-enabled cameras help apprehend infiltrators at night. BSF is also contemplating installation of Floating Border Outpost during high monsoon when all these rivers swell up. But all these entail a huge expense on India.
In the report ‘Ghats’ signify strategic entry points to facilitate Bangladeshis sneaking into West Bengal. ‘Ghat parties’ are agents who personally help Bangladeshis to cross the border and sneak into West Bengal.
Human migrations to escape poverty SND hunger.
The bigger, more lucrative, trade goes unnoticed because it involves both central and state forces, BSF, Pokuce, businessmen, traders Abd, above all, politicians if the BJP SND state parties. This is tgecteade in cows from India to Babdladesh. Millions of Cows from tens of states find their way into Bengal and from there across the porous border, to Bangladesh.