Under the United States’ new immigration policy, 31 Bangladeshi nationals have been deported back to Bangladesh so far this year. Among them are 30 men and one woman. According to sources, they were sent back after either residing illegally in the U.S. or being convicted in various cases.
Three of the deportees were brought back to Dhaka under special security by U.S. security personnel. The rest were deported via commercial and chartered flights. Most recently, five Bangladeshis were sent back last Saturday on a chartered flight.
One of the deportees, a resident of Noakhali, told the media that he was deported respectfully and was not subjected to any inhumane treatment. He had sought political asylum in the U.S., but since it was not granted, he was sent back to Bangladesh.
A senior official of the police’s Special Branch said that from the outset, the Bangladesh government worked diplomatically to ensure that its citizens are repatriated with dignity. Multiple discussions were held with the U.S. embassy, and as a result, the use of handcuffs or military aircraft was avoided in the case of Bangladeshi deportees.
The process is being carried out under the supervision of various U.S. agencies. A list of undocumented Bangladeshi immigrants in the U.S. is prepared and sent to Dhaka through the Bangladesh Embassy, after which the police and immigration authorities verify the information.
This repatriation process is being monitored under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Several meetings have been held by both government and non-government organizations to consider various aspects of immigration. In addition, there are plans to involve BRAC, a non-governmental organization, to provide necessary support to those who are repatriated.
A BRAC official mentioned that the organization provides assistance to returning migrants at the airport and is also prepared to support those deported from the U.S.
It is worth noting that the U.S. began tightening its immigration policy after the Trump administration took office in January 2017. As part of that policy, efforts to repatriate immigrants from various countries, including Bangladesh, were initiated.
