Bangladesh is denying that any of its nationals live illegally in India, one day after India announced plans to deport what it said were millions of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants.
Dhaka's Foreign Minister Shamasher Mobin Chowdhury says that around 10 million Bangladeshis who fled to India during Bangaldesh's 1971 war for independence had all returned home. He calls the Indian statements unfortunate and baseless.
Tuesday, India's home ministry said there are 20-million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the country, and said they would be deported starting in April.
The ministry said the immigrants pose a serious threat to internal security. It urged authorities to tackle the problem with "the utmost urgency and seriousness."
The ministry did not explain how people would be identified for deportation.
India shares a long eastern border with Bangladesh.