The harsh life in refugee camps was marked by uncertainty and anxiety. Then came the news that Bangladesh had attained independence. Alongside this announcement, the Indian government declared that those who entered India after March 25 must return to their homeland promptly. A deadline was set for the end of February 1972. In response, refugees began returning to Bangladesh rapidly. According to reports from the United Nations and other international organizations, over 9 million refugees returned to Bangladesh within the deadline set by the Indian government. Consequently, more than 90 percent of Bangladeshi refugees had left Indian soil within three months of victory.

Following the March 25, 1971 attack by the Pakistani military on unarmed Bengalis, a massive influx of refugees from East Pakistan (Bangladesh) into India began. Refugees arriving at the borders were registered immediately. Before entering India, they were issued a document, provided with rationed food, and given vaccinations against cholera and smallpox for their journey into the country.

Those who did not register at the borders lived in India with friends, relatives, or local families. According to Indian government statistics, by early December 1971, 6.8 million Bangladeshi refugees were living in camps, while an additional 3.1 million were staying with local families.

Reports from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also documented the swift return of refugees to Bangladesh after independence. In a message sent from the UNHCR headquarters on January 6, 1972, Director of Operations Thomas Jamieson wrote that an extraordinary and coordinated effort was being made by both sides to repatriate refugees. Special trains were departing daily. New plans for the operation were to be announced the following week.

Nearly 6 million refugees had returned to their homeland by the end of January, mentioned another UNHCR report. The report mentioned that the scene of people returning from camps to Bangladesh appeared like an unending stream of humanity. Their sole purpose was to return to their birthplace as quickly as possible. Some had set out on foot, others on bicycles or rickshaws. Platforms were filled with countless people waiting. In January alone, an average of 221,000 people crossed the Bangladesh border daily.

During their return, refugees were provided with food, medical assistance, and two weeks of basic rations for their journey. By the end of February 1972, the number of refugees returning to Bangladesh exceeded 9 million. According to the Indian government, 60,000 refugees were remaining in India as of March 25, 1972. The Indian government made it clear that they would not allow any of these refugees to remain permanently.

The pace at which refugees returned to Bangladesh was faster than their arrival in India during the Liberation War. While discussing refugee numbers, then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi mentioned in the Indian parliament’s lower house on May of 1971 that there were about 330 camps housing around 4 million people, including 90,000 refugees in the hill state of Tripura.

At that time, international donors responded significantly to the overwhelming costs of hosting such a large number of refugees. UN Secretary-General U Thant made a special appeal to global donors on May 19 of 1971 for emergency assistance. Responding to this call, international donors pledged nearly $17 million in aid within weeks.

The quick response from the global community was largely due to the sincere efforts of the United Nations and other international organizations. Between May 6 and 19, a UNHCR mission visited numerous refugee camps in West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam. A telegram was sent to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. It mentioned that the faces of people reflected the horrors they had endured. Many men, women, and children had gunshot wounds. The telegram mentioned that the suffering witnessed in those camps could not be described in words.

Bangladeshi refugees faced many issues during their time in the camps. The children living in those camps became severely malnourished. A UNICEF report also noted that poor sanitation in the camps had led to the rapid spread of cholera. This had also taken a devastating toll among children.