Several workers and labourers from West Bengal have faced harassment and assault in Odisha after being called “Bangladeshis.” The affected workers, who hail from Murshidabad, Malda, and Birbhum, have long been working in Odisha but are now facing increased hostility.
On August 10, incidents of harassment were reported in areas including Dumuduma Rahamad, AIIMS at Alugadi, Panpada, and Shikhar Chandi. Workers were targeted, and some were even banned from entering certain areas.
Anisur Rahman, a resident of Koytha village in Nalhati, Birbhum, has been selling clothes in Odisha for many years. On Saturday, he was surrounded and harassed by locals who accused him of being a ‘Bangladeshi’. Despite showing his Aadhaar card, Rahman was still called a ‘Bangladeshi’. He said, “I’ve been doing business here for about 20 years. I have never faced such a situation.”
Rahman was allegedly attacked by a man affiliated with a Hindutva group, who slapped him and scattered his goods. He said, “One of my sons, Sakir Hossain, was also beaten up for being a ‘Bangladeshi’. He barely escaped.”
Videos of the harassment, which have gone viral on social media, show workers being mocked and asked to leave the area. In one video, a vendor is beaten for not producing his Aadhaar card quickly enough.
Muhammad Abul Kashem, a plastic goods vendor from Malda, was also attacked. He said, “I have been terrified since the incident. Now I have no choice but to go home. If we stay here, they will kill us.”
Harishchandrapur Police Station IC Monojit Sarkar confirmed that they are in contact with the affected workers and are coordinating with local authorities.
Malda District Magistrate Nitin Singhania stated, “We are in touch with the workers and taking steps to bring them back to Bengal.”
Several labourers from Murshidabad have reported similar harassment. Saifuddin Momin, who has worked in Odisha for 24 years, said, “Bengali-speaking workers are being harassed as soon as they are seen. I had to leave for my safety.”
Bhangar Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Nawsad Siddique has written to the Chief Ministers of West Bengal and Odisha, urging them to ensure the safety of the migrant workers. He said, “There is extreme communalism and provincialism among some locals. The Odisha government must take action to protect these workers.”
The APDR (Association for Protection of Democratic Rights) has also condemned the harassment, with district secretary Rahul Chakraborty calling for the workers’ safety and urging them to be employed in their home states.
Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, has spoken to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi about the situation. She has urged the migrant workers to return to West Bengal and assured them of support from her government.
