IIT Bombay To Build AI Tool To Identify Illegal Bangladeshis
The Maharashtra government, in collaboration with IIT Bombay, is developing a language-based verification AI tool to identify suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas in the state. The tool will analyse speech patterns, tone, and linguistic usage to help identify the suspects.
The state’s information technology department is developing the tool as part of an Rs 3 crore project to assist law-enforcement agencies during preliminary identification. As per the officials, it would help in the initial screening step before the police carry out a full nationality investigation based on documents.
On January 11, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said to free Mumbai from Bangladeshis. “We have deported the highest so far. With AI, we will identify and deport 100 percent of Bangladeshis.”
Notably, West Bengal and Bangladesh (East Bengal) share overlapping dialects, accents, vocabulary, and pronunciation, since they are linguistically part of the same region that was divided politically. As a result, many Bengalis from West Bengal may sound “Bangladeshi” to outsiders. The overlap is especially significant in border districts such as North 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad, and Malda, where speech patterns naturally blend across regions.
Reportedly, the system will use linguistic markers such as accent, tone and word choices to distinguish Bangladeshi nationals from Bengali-speaking residents of West Bengal.
Once the tool indicates that a suspected person may not be from West Bengal, enforcement agencies can then proceed with further investigation to establish nationality through documentary verification.
The tool is currently in an experimental phase. CM Fadnavis said that tool is in the process of making for the last three months and the reliability has proven to be 60%. The AI tool will be ready to be used in the next six months.
