Bhubaneswar: Two Bangladeshi nationals, who flew to Bhubaneswar for urgent medical care, were forced to depart the city without receiving treatment for a cardiac ailment after facing police scrutiny at the airport and subsequent refusal of admission by a private hospital.
The brothers, aged 49 and 35, landed at Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) late Sunday night after traveling from Dubai via Mumbai, where they worked as a driver and labourer. The elder brother required treatment for a heart condition at a local private facility, which had even arranged an ambulance pickup. However, due to a communication mishap, the ambulance did not arrive, prompting them to seek a taxi.
A cab driver, upon learning of their Bangladeshi nationality, reportedly alerted others at the airport, leading locals to gather and notify police over fears they were illegal immigrants. The men were detained briefly at the airport police station, where officers verified their passports and valid visas, clearing them of any irregularities.
Despite this, sources indicate the hospital later declined to admit the patient, fearing potential unrest linked to ongoing India-Bangladesh tensions, including reported violence against Hindus in the neighbouring country.
With no viable options, the brothers flew back to Mumbai on Monday morning.
This episode has unfolded against a backdrop of heightened sensitivities in Odisha toward suspected illegal immigrant, as well as broader strains affecting medical access for Bangladeshi patients in India. The incident comes close on the heels of a tragedy in Sambalpur district on December 24, where a migrant worker from West Bengal was fatally assaulted amid suspicions, later disputed by police, of being a Bangladeshi national.
Meanwhile, the state government has ramped up operations to identify illegal immigrants following directives from both state and central authorities. CM Majhi recently told the Assembly that 51 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants had been identified statewide, with 49 already deported.
