Benapole: Eighteen Bangladeshi women, men, and children returned home through Benapole on Wednesday after serving jail terms in India. Indian Petrapole immigration police handed them over to Bangladeshi authorities at around 5 pm under special travel permits.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the returnees include six men, nine women, and three children hailing from various regions including Jashore, Khulna, Panchagarh, Satkhira, Thakurgaon, Gopalganj, Barishal, Narsingdi, Chattogram, Dinajpur, and Lalmonirhat. Officer-in-Charge of Benapole Immigration Police, Saifur Rahman, stated that the individuals had illegally crossed into India at different times, lured by brokers with promises of employment.
They were subsequently arrested while working in households and farms in Kolkata and sentenced to jail terms ranging from six months to over three years for illegal entry. Notably, Anju Begum spent 15 years in an Indian prison.
After completing their sentences, a Kolkata-based human rights organization provided shelter for them. With the cooperation of the embassies of both countries and special travel permits from the Indian government, they managed to return home. Following immigration formalities, the returnees were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station, where the human rights organization Justice and Care took them into its care, with plans to reunite them with their families.
Anju Begum expressed her joy upon her return to Bangladesh, stating, "Bangladesh is my motherland. I cannot remember how I went to India. I am very happy to be back home. I want to spend the rest of my life in Bangladesh."
Justice and Care's Senior Programme Officer, Muhit Hossain, mentioned that the organization is currently housing the returnees at its shelter home before they are handed over to their respective families.