Malda follows Tripura’s lead, bans Bangladeshis from hotels amid growing border tensions

The Malda Hotel Owners Association has issued a directive banning Bangladeshis from staying in hotels located in the English Bazar area of Malda district. This decision has been made in response to growing security concerns amid rising instability in Bangladesh, particularly at the India-Bangladesh border. The Mahdipur border, a key crossing point between India and Bangladesh, sees a significant number of Bangladeshi nationals entering India each day with valid documents.

On average, approximately 400 to 500 Bangladeshis cross through the Mahdipur border daily. These individuals typically enter India for various reasons, including medical treatment, employment, and trade. After crossing into India, many of them rent rooms in hotels in English Bazar, a commercial and residential area in Malda. However, in light of the increasing political unrest in Bangladesh, local hotel owners have expressed concerns about the potential for individuals without proper documentation to enter India. This has led to the decision to prohibit Bangladeshis from booking hotel rooms in the area.

Krishnaendu Chaudhary, Secretary of the Malda Hotel Owners Association, explained that while the decision may lead to financial losses for hotel owners, the instability in Bangladesh has made it more difficult to verify the authenticity of the documents presented by travelers. He emphasized that the growing uncertainty about the situation across the border has led to increased risks, as some travelers might attempt to enter the country under false pretenses.

Uttam Basak, Secretary of the Malda Merchant Chamber of Commerce, also voiced support for the ban, expressing concerns about the possibility of unauthorized individuals gaining access to hotels using fraudulent documents. With tensions rising in Bangladesh, the local business community has focused on minimizing the risks associated with the potential illegal entry of individuals, which could lead to legal consequences for the hotel owners.