Sayeda Hameed, a former Planning Commission member, sparked intense controversy with her statement that Bangladeshis have a right to live in India, citing “Allah has made this Earth for humans, not for Satan.”
Made during a visit to Assam amid the state’s efforts to evict illegal encroachers from government lands, Hameed’s comments were deemed insensitive to indigenous communities in Northeast India—particularly in Assam, Tripura, and Meghalaya.
The presence of Bangladeshi immigrants has impacted local demographics, security, and the rights of indigenous peoples.
In Northeast India, including Meghalaya, Bangladeshi infiltration is a sensitive issue due to its impact on demographics, security, and indigenous rights.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma strongly criticized Hameed’s remarks, stating “Bangladeshis are not welcome in Assam,” emphasizing the need to protect the state’s land and culture.
Meghalaya shares similar concerns; authorities claim brokers—Indian citizens in border villages—facilitate Bangladeshi entry.
Hameed’s remarks could energize unscrupulous citizens focused on personal benefits. Many infiltrators cite limited job opportunities in impoverished Bangladesh as their reason for coming to India.
The violent upheaval in Bangladesh in August 2025, leading to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure, has heightened tensions and threats to peace and stability.
India has erected about 79% of fencing on the India-Bangladesh border to prevent infiltration, robbery, smuggling, and other illegal activities. However, parts remain unfenced due to resistance from Meghalaya landowners fearing loss of land, pressuring the District Administration to resolve the issue.
The state government has tried to explain that border fencing prevents increasing border robberies. Recent incidents along the India-Bangladesh border should serve as a wake-up call for border residents in Meghalaya, necessitating the Centre to fully fence the unfenced parts.
Hameed’s remarks drew sharp reactions from Assam’s Chief Minister, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, and others, viewing her comments as legitimizing illegal immigration. Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi warned that large-scale infiltration in the Northeast is a “strategic” move aimed at engineering another partition of India—a statement that cannot be taken lightly.
The situation demands careful balancing of security measures with community concerns to prevent illegal immigration and demographic shifts.
The Government of India and state governments like Meghalaya’s must address border security and local community concerns amidst Bangladesh’s instability and networks facilitating illegal immigration.
With networks creating fake PAN and Aadhaar cards to make Bangladeshi citizens Indian citizens, the stakes are high. Ensuring border security and addressing local concerns is crucial for peace and stability in the Northeast.
