The alarming claim that “90% of people are Bangladeshis” in the context of “Bengal SIR” is a highly controversial and politically charged allegation tied to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls currently underway in West Bengal.

The claim is not an official finding but rather an allegation made and amplified by opposition political figures and some media outlets.

Here are the full details surrounding the Bengal SIR controversy and the related claims about Bangladeshi nationals:

🧐 What is ‘Bengal SIR’?

SIR stands for the Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls, an exercise launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI) in several states, including West Bengal, in late 2025.

• Purpose: The stated goal of the SIR is a comprehensive, door-to-door verification process conducted by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to clean up the voter list. This includes deleting names of deceased or permanently migrated voters and ensuring all eligible citizens are registered.
• Controversy: The timing of the SIR, just months before key Assembly elections (scheduled for 2026), has triggered strong protests and political accusations. Critics, led by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), allege the SIR is a political tool to intimidate voters and unjustly omit names of legitimate Indian citizens.

📢 The “90% Bangladeshi” Claim

The shocking figure regarding “90% Bangladeshis” is an inflammatory narrative being propagated by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and related media in the state.

• Political Allegation: The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari (BJP), has been the most vocal proponent of this narrative. He has repeatedly asserted that the SIR will lead to the deletion of Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators from the voter list.
• The Intent: This narrative explicitly links the SIR exercise to a future National Register of Citizens (NRC) or similar citizenship verification drive. The political objective is to frame the SIR as a necessary step to remove illegal immigrants who, the BJP alleges, constitute a significant portion of the electoral support base for the ruling TMC.
• Fear and Media Amplification: The claim has led to mass panic in vulnerable, poor, and border-area communities, where residents (many of whom are genuine Indian citizens but lack robust documentation) have been targeted by journalists and social media campaigns, forcing them to produce documents to prove their identity.

🏃 Evidence of Impact (Fear and Exodus)

While the “90% Bangladeshi” figure is unsubstantiated, the fear surrounding the SIR is real and has led to tangible outcomes:

• Apprehensions at the Border: Following the announcement of the SIR, the Border Security Force (BSF) apprehended a surge of Bangladeshi infiltrators (reportedly in the dozens) attempting to illegally cross back into Bangladesh through border pockets like Basirhat. BSF officers stated these individuals were leaving India “fearing detention or deportation in the wake of the SIR announcement.”
• Deaths from Anxiety: TMC leaders have claimed that several individuals have died due to “anxiety over SIR” and the perceived threat to their citizenship.
• Fact-Check: Some viral videos claiming to show “illegal Bangladeshis protesting SIR” have been fact-checked and proven false, actually showing protests in Bangladesh over domestic constituency demarcation. This highlights the high level of misinformation surrounding the issue.