One of the several hundred pillars along the international border with India. Picture taken at the borders with the northern distric of Panchagarh in Bangladesh.
India has made it easier for minorities from Bangladesh and Pakistan to stay in the country.
A release by the Press Information Bureau of the Union government circulated on Monday said, “India has decided, on humanitarian considerations, to exempt Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals belonging to minority communities who have entered into India on or before 31st December, 2014 from the relevant provisions of rules and order made under the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and the Foreigners Act, 1946, in respect of their entry and stay in India without such documents or after the expiry of those documents, as the case may be.”
This decision was taken by the Indian home ministry, the release said.
India has issued two notifications in the Official Gazette on Monday under the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and the Foreigners Act, 1946.
The notifications have been informed to the governments of the states bordering Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Many Bangladesh and Pakistan nationals belonging to minority communities, such as Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Parsis and Buddhists have been compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution, according to Indian media reports.
They have entered into India either without any valid travel documents like passport or with documents whose validity has expired.
The issue of regularisation of entry and stay of such Bangladeshi and Pakistani nationals in India belonging to minority communities has been under consideration of the Indian government.
It was a poll-time promise made by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Source: Bd news24
