A legal notice has been served to the Bangladesh government demanding a ban on citizens travelling to the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura and the immediate suspension of immigration services to these regions.
Md Mahmudul Hasan Mamun, a Supreme Court lawyer, sent the notice via registered post on Monday, in public interest.
The notice was addressed to the cabinet secretary, home secretary, foreign secretary, director general of the Department of Immigration and Passports, and the chairman of Bangladesh Land Port Authority.
It states that while Bangladeshi citizens have traditionally travelled to India for legitimate reason – including tourism, business, medical treatment, and education – recent reports across various media and social media platforms indicate public threats from certain Bengali-speaking extremist groups in India.
It further claims that Bangladeshi nationals face a significant risk of harassment and violence if they enter West Bengal or Tripura.
According to the legal notice, these threats should not be viewed as isolated incidents.
It references past attacks by Indian extremist groups on Bangladesh High Commissions located in various Indian states, asserting that such events demonstrate a hostile intent and the capability to act against the interests and safety of Bangladeshi citizens.
Citing Article 32 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, the lawyer argued that the state has a constitutional obligation to protect the right to life of its citizens.
The notice contends that the state may fail in its constitutional duty if it continues to allow citizens to travel to potentially hazardous areas despite public threats from organised extremist groups.
In light of these concerns, the notice demands an immediate halt to immigration activities at all land ports directly connected to West Bengal and Tripura.
Additionally, it calls for the suspension of immigration processes at airports for those heading to these two states until diplomatic assurances of a safe environment are secured from the relevant Indian authorities.
The concerned authorities have been requested to take the necessary administrative measures within seven days and provide notification of such actions.
This notice warns that if these demands are not met, a writ petition will be filed in the High Court Division in the public interest to ensure the protection of the lives of Bangladeshi citizens.
