MUMBAI: The arrest of illegal Bangladeshi immigrant Shariful Islam Shehzad Mohammed Rohilla Amin Fakir for last week’s attempted robbery and assault on actor Saif Ali Khan at his residence in Bandra has reignited concerns about unauthorised entry and stay in the country.
Since Bangladeshis, whether illegal or legal immigrants, are often willing to work for less money than the prevailing rate in the city, they are readily hired as labourers, jewellery artisans, domestic help and other such workers, many times through unverified sources, say the police.
Crime branch sources said Bangladeshis entering the country illegally typically do this through regions like Malda, 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, Dineshpur and Chapali Nawabganj. Once here, the illegal immigrants reportedly pay Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 to obtain fake Aadhaar cards with the help of agents. These documents enable them to settle in any part of the country. Agents assist them in securing jobs for a commission.
“There is a vast network operating in India that helps these illegal immigrants settle here,” an officer said. “They are not afraid of cases being registered against them, because it guarantees their prolonged stay. Until the case reaches a judgment, they cannot be deported. Moreover, they secure bail within days and continue living a normal life.”
Even with regular deportation drives, the illegals keep growing as many re-enter the country under new identities. Many if them get work as housemaids, cooks, fish sellers, casual labourers, and some even enter the flesh trade.
In a recent operation, the police and crime branch arrested 30 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Last year 310 Bangladeshi nationals staying illegally were arrested by the police in the city alone. Some of the arrested had even been casting votes in elections for years.
CM Devendra Fadnavis recently said illegal Bangladeshi immigrants were seeking birth certificates in the state to obtain voting rights. He called it ‘vote jihad part 2’. “Nearly 100 such cases have been reported in Amravati and Malegaon taluka in Nashik. These people, many aged around 50 years, are obtaining documents illegally,” he said at the state BJP convention in Shirdi.
During the Nov assembly poll campaign, Fadnavis had cited instances of a community voting en masse against the BJP in the Lok Sabha election held earlier in 2024, and had termed it ‘vote jihad’.
In Dec, he had said that a detention centre would be built in the city to keep illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Last year the crime branch unit 1 arrested a person, Mohammad Idris Sheikh alias Joshimuddin Bishu Dewan, a Bangladeshi residing in the city since 1994. The arrest took place near Charni Road station. During the investigation, officials discovered a “rate chart” detailing the sums paid by Bangladeshis to agents for illegal entry into the country.
There is a large demand for maids in the city for domestic and housekeeping work, and Bangladeshis are willing to fill the gap.
“There is scarcity of maids and cooks and local workers demand large sums. In comparison Bangladeshis are ready to work round-the-clock and come cheap,” Chaya Kadam, a city resident, said.