West Bengal to Provide Land and Housing to Matua Refugees, Says Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari

Kolkata, November 1 (Daily Kiran) : Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced on Sunday that Matua refugees arriving from Bangladesh will soon be released and provided with land and housing in West Bengal. This promise comes after many members of the Matua community were detained under the previous government led by Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.

During his address at the second International Matua Gosai Conference in Thakurnagar, North 24 Parganas, Adhikari committed to granting citizenship to these refugees under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) before adding their names to the electoral rolls.

The Matua community, a marginalized Hindu group, migrated from what was once East Pakistan, now Bangladesh, settling in various parts of West Bengal since independence. Adhikari highlighted the recent political changes in Bangladesh, which have led to increased persecution of Hindus, particularly those from the Matua community. He noted that many had faced severe oppression and that the previous Trinamool Congress government had selectively detained Hindu refugees, including Matua members.

On September 1, 2025, Home Minister Amit Shah assured that those entering India from Bangladesh would not face police harassment until December 31, 2024. Following this, Adhikari stated that any Matua refugees still imprisoned without trial in correctional facilities in areas like Bangaon, Barasat, and Ranaghat would be released with dignity and offered land and housing.

He also pledged that all Matua community members would receive CAA certificates by December 31 of this year. In his speech, the Chief Minister criticized opposition parties and the ongoing movement regarding the removal of the Special Investigation Review (SIR) and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, vowing not to spare those attempting to destabilize the state and country. He emphasized that Hindus would not become refugees on their own soil again.