The struggle of Bengali Muslims in Assam is essentially Bangladesh’s struggle, commented Nahid Islam, the convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP).
He stated that the demolition of homes in Assam’s Nagaon and riverine char areas is not merely an attack on a few families, but a conspiracy to erase the historical presence and political existence of Bengali Muslims.
He made these remarks in a post on his verified Facebook profile on Monday night (October 26).
Nahid Islam said that 100 years ago, a “Line System” was drawn in Assam’s Nagaon. This measure was introduced to determine where Bengali Muslim farmers could and could not live. Today, 100 years later, bulldozers are operating in that very same Nagaon. The rulers have changed, and the language has changed, but the target of the attack remains the same.
He noted that on October 17 and 18, over just two days, more than 1,100 homes of Bengali-speaking Muslims were demolished in Assam. More than 10 mosques were also torn down. This is not an isolated incident. Between 2021 and 2026, over 22,000 families have been rendered homeless across at least 33 drives.
Nahid Islam said the answer is clear in Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Hindutva politics. Assam’s historical conflict was “Assamese vs. Bengali.” But today, the BJP has trapped that ethnic politics within the frame of religious nationalism, making Bengali-speaking Muslims their primary target.
Regarding the pattern of these evictions, he said that the names of thousands of evicted people are suddenly disappearing from the voter lists. Issuing new Aadhaar cards for those above 18 years of age has been halted. While exceptions are being made for many, no concessions are offered to Bengali-speaking Muslims.
Mentioning that 1.9 million people were left out of the NRC, Nahid Islam said that the CAA was introduced to keep the path to citizenship open for non-Muslims. Added to this are illegal “pushbacks.” Bypassing tribunals, the authority to deport has been placed directly in the hands of District Magistrates.
He further added that Assam is essentially a laboratory for Hindutva. Across India, Bengali-speaking Muslims are being harassed under the label of “infiltrators.” Despite living there for generations over a century, they are being deprived of their civic rights simply for being Bengali-speaking Muslims.
Highlighting the historical ties between Assam’s Karimganj and Bangladesh, Nahid Islam said that in 1874, Karimganj along with Sylhet was severed from Bengal and attached to Assam. People protested at the time by submitting a memorandum to the Viceroy. In the 1947 referendum, although 57 percent voted to join East Bengal, Karimganj and a few other areas remained with Assam. As a result, to the people of Sylhet, news from Barak and Assam is not foreign news, but news of relatives.
He noted that out of the three districts of Barak hardest hit by the NRC, one is Karimganj, which was once part of Sylhet district. The tears shed on this side of the Surma River are shared on the other side as well. The Bengali Language Movement was not confined to Dhaka alone. On May 19, 1961, eleven Bengalis were martyred by police firing at Silchar Railway Station while demanding rights for the Bengali language. Blood was shed again in 1972 and 1986.
Nahid Islam mentioned that a major portion of the language martyrs in Silchar were children of Bengali Hindu families. This proves that Bengali Hindus and Muslims stood united on the issue of language. Therefore, the language martyrs of Barak are also our shared heritage.
Referring to the Bengali Muslims of the Brahmaputra Valley, he said that for the sake of survival, they adopted the Assamese language and movement, giving up their mother tongue so that Assam would accept them. However, the outcome was the exact opposite. Even today, they are branded as “Bangladeshis” and their homes are destroyed.
He stated that Bengali Muslims in Assam are currently facing attacks from two fronts. Assamese radical nationalism attacks them for being Bengalis, while radical Hindutva attacks them for being Muslims. Currently, these two forces have merged to push Bengali Muslims into a corner.
Nahid Islam asserted that in this context, the struggle of Maulana Bhashani serves as a guiding light and historical precedent. A century ago, Maulana Bhashani fought to protect the rights of the oppressed people in Assam’s char regions. He noted that after organizing a peasant rally at Bhasan Char on the Brahmaputra in 1924, he became known as “Bhashani.”
He added that Bhashani’s movement against the “Line System” and “Bangal Khedao” (Expel Bengalis) politics was the primary foundation for safeguarding the civic dignity of this community on Assam’s soil. By enduring imprisonment eight times and facing ultimate expulsion from Assam, Bhashani proved that the existence of Bengali Muslims in this region is not an accidental phenomenon, but a historical reality earned through sweat and blood.
Nahid Islam stated that the Bengali Muslims of Assam are residents and citizens of that country. Their legal status must be guaranteed within the framework of the Indian Constitution. Their demand is clear: historical recognition and self-dignity for a geographic community.
Questioning Bangladesh’s role, he said that for Bangladesh, this is not just news from a neighboring country; it is a direct question of our existence and sovereignty. Those being rendered “stateless” across the border and pushed through the boundary are caught in between two countries, facing an uncertain future.
He noted that while BGB is guarding the border and several letters have been sent to India, is it possible to stop these bulldozers merely with diplomatic letters? A firm and clear international or national diplomatic stance regarding the evictions in Nagaon is yet to be seen. Will the “Bangladesh First” policy remain limited strictly to guarding the border?
Nahid Islam suggested that the BNP government should publish a white paper on border push-ins and the current situation. At the same time, he called for raising voice on international platforms, including the UN, regarding the inhumane risk of statelessness, alongside issuing a formal declaration refusing to accept any push-ins or repatriations.
On the other hand, the NCP convener urged strict vigilance to ensure that the security of minority communities in Bangladesh is not disrupted as a fallout of the situation in Assam. He warned that communal instability would, on the contrary, pave the way for further oppression of Bengali Muslims in Assam. The actual truth—that Bangladesh is distinct—must be kept at the forefront.
Nahid Islam concluded by stating that the geopolitical, social, and cultural history of Bengali Muslims, which began in Dhaka 120 years ago, remains unfinished today as it passes through the chars of the Brahmaputra and the railway station of Silchar. Upholding our national interests while embracing that history and the struggle of our kindred people is our primary responsibility today.
