‘After detention, we found out about deportation through viral video': Kin of Bengal migrant worker ‘pushed' into Bangladesh
The incident came to light after a purported video of the man, identified as Amir Sheikh from Jalalpur village under Kaliachowk police station in Malda, went viral on social media earlier this week. The family has lodged a formal complaint with the West Bengal Police.
This comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is protesting in Parliament over the alleged harassment and detention of migrant workers from Bengal in various states during ongoing drives against alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled to lead a protest rally in Kolkata on July 27.
In the video, accessed by The Indian Express, Sheikh is seen speaking to residents in Bangladesh. He identifies himself, shares his West Bengal address, and alleges that after being detained for two months, he was recently sent across the border into Bangladesh.
'This is most unfortunate. Earlier too, Indian citizens from West Bengal were labelled as Bangladeshis and pushed into that country. We were able to bring some of them back through state government intervention. This cannot continue. I have spoken with the family members over the phone. Our government is trying. We may also go for legal recourse,' said Samirul Islam, chairman of the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board and TMC Rajya Sabha MP, speaking to The Indian Express from Delhi.
Officials in the West Bengal administration said they are in touch with authorities in Rajasthan. According to Amir's family, he had travelled to Rajasthan three months ago in search of work.
'About two months ago, we were told by the contractor that he had been detained as an illegal Bangladeshi national. He had documents with him, like an Aadhaar card and birth certificate, which he showed. But they still put him in a detention camp. On Tuesday, we saw a video on social media of him,' said Muhammad Ajmal Sheikh, Amir's uncle, speaking over the phone from Malda.
'We were shocked. Later yesterday, police officials came to our house and took all Amir's documents,' he said. 'We went to the police station and submitted a written complaint. We've lived here for generations, and Amir has all the documents. We want our boy back.'
Family members said Amir lost his mother five years ago. His father, Muhammad Jim Sheikh, currently works as a migrant labourer in Uttar Pradesh.
'We have written to the district magistrate of Malda to take immediate steps to bring the boy back from Bangladesh. I personally visited the home of the migrant and spoke to his family members. They lost all contact with him after his detention two months ago,' said Asif Faruk, state general secretary (WB) of the Parijayi Sramik Aikya Manch (Migrant Workers' Unity Forum).
This incident comes in the wake of several similar cases across states like Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh. On June 14, seven residents of West Bengal were detained in Mumbai and later pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF. Following intervention by the Bengal government, four youths from Murshidabad, one from Purba Bardhaman, and a husband-wife duo from North 24 Parganas were brought back from Bangladesh.
Ravik Bhattacharya is the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. Over 20 years of experience in the media industry and covered politics, crime, major incidents and issues, apart from investigative stories in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Andaman Nicobar islands. Ravik won the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for political reporting.
Ravik holds a bachelor degree with English Hons from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University and a PG diploma in mass communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik started his career with The Asian Age and then moved to The Statesman, The Telegraph and Hindustan Times. ... Read More
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
a few seconds ago
- Business Standard
Trump tariffs raise alarm, but how dependent is India on US imports
The United States (US) has slapped a 50 per cent tariff on most goods imported from India, escalating trade tensions over New Delhi's purchase of Russian oil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded with a vow to "fiercely guard the livelihoods" of farmers, dairy workers, and fishermen. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian politicians have condemned the move as unjust and unfair. The timing of the US action is sensitive. Between April 2024 and March 2025 (FY25), US imports to India rose by 7.44 per cent, placing the US firmly among India's top five import sources. While India is not likely to go down a reciprocal tariff route, it is worth asking: how dependent is India on US imports? The scale of trade India's total imports in FY25 stood at $915.19 billion, with merchandise accounting for $720.24 billion and services for the rest. The US contributed a relatively small slice of this. According to United Nations Comtrade data, India's imports from the US were $38.99 billion during 2024. India imported goods worth $3.63 billion from the US in May 2025 alone. At the same time, India exported $81.4 billion worth of goods and services to the US, making it India's largest export destination, particularly for IT services, pharmaceuticals, and engineered goods. What India imports from the US India relies on the US for specific categories: High-end electronics and semiconductors Aircraft and aerospace parts Medical devices Energy products, especially LNG Machinery and precision equipment Professional services and technology consulting These are not bulk imports like oil or gold, but they are critical for India's technology, defence, and infrastructure sectors. Indian tariffs on US imports US goods entering India are already expensive—India has been accused by the US official of applying some of the world's highest tariffs. The average import duty stands at 17 per cent overall, with agricultural products taxed at an average of 39 per cent, and some items like alcohol and walnuts attracting duties as high as 150 per cent and 100 per cent, respectively. Can India replace US imports? The short answer: mostly yes—but with caveats. Here's a sector-by-sector view: Electronics and semiconductors While US firms supply advanced components, China dominates the electronics supply chain, shipping $10.3 billion (OEC data) worth in May 2025 alone. Other alternatives include Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan, which already supply smartphones, displays, and consumer electronics. Aircraft and aerospace US firms, including Boeing and Lockheed Martin, have strong ties with India, especially in defence and civil aviation. But India also sources aircraft and parts from France (Airbus), Russia, and Israel. The US holds a strategic edge here, but not a monopoly. Pharmaceuticals and medical devices While the US provides advanced formulations and devices, India imports APIs (active pharmaceutical ingredients) largely from China, and equipment from Germany, Switzerland, and Singapore. Additionally, India is a net exporter of medicines, limiting dependence. Energy products India buys LNG from the US, but Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Qatar, and the UAE remain its dominant energy suppliers. The US helps diversify supply, but it is not critical for energy security. Agricultural goods Imports of almonds, apples, and walnuts from the US were once significant, but India diversified during the retaliatory tariff phase (2019–2023), sourcing from Australia, Chile, Canada, and Turkey. These alternatives remain active. Spirits and alcohol US bourbon and whiskey are well-regarded, but Scotch from the UK, Cognac from France, and Japanese whiskies dominate the Indian market. At a 150 per cent tariff, cost is already a bigger barrier than supply. Strategic, not structural, dependence US imports matter more for strategic value than volume. For instance, when it comes to aircraft parts or cloud infrastructure, US firms are not easily replaceable in the short term. But India has cultivated multi-source supply chains across Asia, West Asia, and Europe. In sectors like telecom, India navigates between US and Chinese suppliers, balancing technology performance, cybersecurity, and pricing. European firms like Nokia and Ericsson also offer alternatives. However, India has banned over 200 Chinese apps and restricted tech firms from tenders, making China an unlikely alternative. What's at stake beyond goods While the spotlight is on goods, services dominate India's trade surplus with the US. In FY25, India exported $383.51 billion in services, much of it to the US, where Indian IT firms have their largest client base. Any trade tension that spills into services could affect employment and revenue more than any tariff on physical goods. Bottom line The new US tariffs may not cripple Indian trade flows, but they add friction to a relationship that is increasingly defined by both cooperation and competition. India is not structurally dependent on US imports in most categories, but the US remains crucial in high-tech, defence, and aviation.
News18
a few seconds ago
- News18
Trump Open to Putin Meet Sans Zelensky, Kyiv Insists "Europe Must Partake as War Happening There"
US President Donald Trump said Thursday (August 7) that he would meet with Vladimir Putin for upcoming talks on the Ukraine war even if the Russian leader had not sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr statement, which contradicted earlier reports that a Putin-Zelensky meeting was a prerequisite for the summit, came after Trump gave Moscow until Friday (August 8) to reach a ceasefire or face fresh asked by reporters in the Oval Office if that deadline still held, Trump did not answer clearly."It's going to be up to (Putin)," Trump said. "We're going to see what he has to say."The Kremlin said Thursday that Putin was set to attend a summit with Trump in the "coming days," but the Russian leader essentially ruled out including Zelensky. Zelensky meanwhile insisted that he had to be involved in any talks. n18oc_world n18oc_crux0:00 INTRODUCTION2:22 UAE TO HOST PUTIN-TRUMP SUMMIT?4:00 TRUMP SAYS WILL MEET PUTIN WITHOUT ZELENSKY SIT-DOWN7:25 PUTIN MEETS INDIAN PM MODI'S TOP AIDE
Deccan Herald
a few seconds ago
- Deccan Herald
Delhi CM orders probe after couple allegedly denied entry at eatery over Indian attire
In the video, a man in a T-shirt, accompanied by a woman in a 'kurta-salwar,' can be seen complaining about allegedly being denied entry for wearing Indian clothing.
