Benapole: Thirty-six Bangladeshi youths returned home through the Benapole border on Thursday night after completing a 17-month prison sentence in India for illegal entry. The returnees, who hail from various districts including Bogura, Khulna, Natore, Chattogram, Dhaka, and Cumilla, were handed over to the Benapole Immigration Police by India’s Petrapole immigration authorities around 9:00 pm under a special travel permit.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the youths traveled to Chennai, India, through illegal channels with the assistance of traffickers, seeking employment opportunities. They were arrested by Indian police for illegal infiltration and subsequently sentenced to 17 months’ imprisonment by an Indian court. After serving their sentences at Chennai Central Prison, they were housed at a shelter home managed by a human rights organization.
The repatriation process was facilitated by the Bangladesh and Indian high commissions under a special travel permit issued by the Indian government. Upon completion of immigration formalities, the returnees were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station.
A representative from the rights-based organization Justice and Care informed that the youths were deceived by traffickers who promised them jobs in garment factories but instead subjected them to fraud and exploitation. The organization has assumed responsibility for the returnees and plans to reunite them with their families on Friday.