Kibria Ansary

Bengali Muslim migrant workers from West Bengal face rising hostility in BJP-ruled states like Odisha and Gujarat. They are harassed, assaulted, and often labeled as illegal Bangladeshis. Many return home in fear, jobless and traumatized, as communal profiling and police inaction fuel a growing humanitarian and economic crisis.

Orphaned at a young age and battling poverty, Osnai Sheikh defied the odds to pursue higher education, earning a postgraduate degree in political science. Despite his academic achievements, financial struggles now threaten his dream of completing his B.Ed. Worse yet, his relentless appeals for a government job remain unheard, leaving him in a cycle of uncertainty and despair.

Parvin Sultana, a daily wage laborer’s daughter from Bengal, secured 599 out of 600 marks to top the All India ITI exam in Mechanic Diesel Trade. Despite financial challenges, she studied without a private tutor. Now, she aspires to join the civil services and contribute to society.

A mob of Hindutva extremists brutally assaulted Rezaul Islam Mondal, a Bengal M.Tech student, on a train, branding him ‘Bangladeshi.’ They pulled his beard, tore his cap, and threatened to kill him. Human rights groups and political leaders condemn the attack, calling it a grim reflection of rising Islamophobia.

The 120-kilometer-long border in Murshidabad is more than a line on the map—it's a daily challenge for residents caught between national security and survival. Farmers struggle with BSF restrictions, smugglers destroy livelihoods, and the lack of infrastructure leaves children walking miles for a barely functional education. Stories of resilience emerge, but the absence of political will compounds the suffering, leaving border villagers as refugees in their own country. Their dream is clear: dignity, safety, and a future where their villages thrive with opportunity.