Odisha identifies Bangladesh, separating them from state work

Pictures of Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan. Credit: X/@Prithivirajbjp

The Odisha government announced on Monday (May 19, 2025) that individuals in Bangladesh will be identified and evacuated from employment across the state.

State Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said: “We have a stated position that can be confirmed that Bangladesh is illegally retained in Odisha. Now, we will ensure that no Bangladesh is engaged through any outsourcing companies in the state.”

“If Bangladesh involves any organized crime, we will definitely track them down,” said Pinak Mishra, deputy inspector general of the Task Force Police Department.

Initially, the focus of identification will be on Bangladesh’s six coastal areas that can reach Bangladesh by sea.

Last year, the Odisha government directed all regional governments to conduct comprehensive identification to track invaders in Bangladesh across the state. Officials were instructed to form a joint team, including personnel from the neighborhood office, Tehsils and the police station, to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants following the unrest in Bangladesh.

In a response submitted in the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the government noted that 3,740 Bangladeshi nationals have been identified as staying in the state illegally and their deportation has been considered.

Among them, the highest number is 1,649, found in the Kendrapara area, followed by 1,112 in Jagatsinghpur. Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts reported 655 and 106 illegal Bangladesh residents, respectively. The invasion of Bangladesh nationals is believed to have been carried out primarily through sea routes along the eastern coastline of Odisha.