Bangladesh measles outbreak: Death toll crosses 600 as 7 children die in 24 hours
After the latest fatalities, the cumulative number of suspected and confirmed measles-related deaths in the South Asian country has reached 601 since March 15.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Hakimpur checkpost in North 24 Parganas district on May 27, 2026, seeking to return to Bangladesh. The Hakimpur border checkpost sits in the Basirhat subdivision of North 24 Parganas district.
The newly formed West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, has launched a “Detect, Delete and Deport” policy targeting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
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#WATCH | North 24 Parganas, West Bengal | A large group of allegedly illegal Bangladeshi immigrants gather at the Hakimpur checkpost near the Bangladesh border, after the newly formed, BJP-led, West Bengal government, launched its ‘detect, delete and deport’ policy. (26.05) pic.twitter.com/RBN79D0cfP
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— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2026
One migrant at the checkpost identified himself as a motorcycle mechanic from Howrah. He said he had lived in India for two to three years without an Aadhaar card or ration card. He said he was brought into India by another individual and that ten people had come together, but he was now returning alone.
#WATCH | North 24 Parganas, West Bengal | A Bangladeshi migrant says, “There is a lot of trouble going on here right now, so we are leaving. We cannot find any work, and no one is allowing us to stay… It has been two or three years since we arrived here from Bangladesh. We were… pic.twitter.com/9Ow4jRCcUe
— ANI (@ANI) May 27, 2026
Adhikari chaired an administrative meeting in Kalyani on May 26, attended by senior officials from Nadia, Hooghly, and North 24 Parganas districts. He directed officials to expedite deportation procedures and stated that the BJP government does not intend to keep such individuals in detention or spend public funds on their upkeep.
The BSF is coordinating with Bangladesh Border Guards (BGB) to complete the deportation process.
The state has begun setting up temporary holding centres. One holding centre in English Bazar currently shelters nine suspected Bangladeshi nationals, including women and minors. Detainees may be kept for up to 30 days while authorities verify documents, collect biometric data, and determine nationality status.
Migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, Christian communities from Bangladesh who entered India before December 31, 2024 on grounds of religious persecution are exempt under Citizenship Amendment Act.
The West Bengal government has also started handing over land to the BSF for barbed-wire fencing along Indo-Bangladesh border.
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