The United States has decided to deport approximately 1,000 undocumented Bangladeshi nationals and has sought the cooperation of the Bangladesh government in executing the process.
The interim administration in Dhaka has reportedly responded positively to the initiative.
Officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have confirmed that Dhaka will extend full cooperation to Washington in facilitating the return of these individuals.
An inter-ministerial meeting is scheduled for Wednesday (5 March) to discuss the matter in detail.
Officials from the Ministries of Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Expatriates' Welfare will participate in the discussions to determine the course of action.
According to senior officials at the Foreign Ministry, representatives from the US Embassy in Dhaka recently engaged in discussions regarding the deportation process.
They indicated that the number of undocumented Bangladeshis residing in the US, based on compiled records, does not exceed a thousand.
The US administration has decided to deport them and has sought Dhaka’s cooperation in implementing the process.
In response, Bangladesh has signalled its willingness to comply.
A senior official further stated, "We do not wish to see a scenario similar to the forced repatriation of undocumented Indian migrants, where they were handcuffed and sent back. The US authorities have also assured that such measures will not be taken against Bangladeshis. Once we receive the official list of undocumented individuals from US authorities, we will verify their identities before initiating the repatriation process. This will be done in consultation with the US administration, ensuring a coordinated approach. We do not support illegal migration, as it tarnishes the country’s image."
Following his re-election, Donald Trump has reinforced his stringent stance on illegal immigration, making it a focal point of his administration’s policy.
On the day of his inauguration, he instructed relevant authorities to identify and deport undocumented immigrants.
Consequently, the US has already repatriated individuals from several nations, including India.
According to data from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the country deported 270,000 illegal immigrants from 192 nations last year, marking the highest annual figure in a decade.
