Six Bangladeshi young men finally walked back into their homeland on Thursday night. They returned through the Benapole checkpost after three years in an Indian jail.
Who Are the Returnees?
The six are Jahangir Alam (21), Abdul Karim (25), Mohammad Ali (26), Sabbir Islam (26), Hafizur (26) and Abdul Sabur (27). Indian immigration authorities at Petrapole handed them to their Bangladeshi counterparts at Benapole. They travelled under special travel permits issued by the Indian government.
How They Ended Up in India
Saifur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Benapole Immigration Police, said the six entered India illegally through border points in Satkhira about four years ago. Brokers had lured them with promises of better-paying jobs. They later went to Jammu and Kashmir, where they worked as labourers.
Arrest and Sentence
Indian police arrested the group, and an Indian court sentenced them to three years in prison for illegal entry. They served the full term.
Shelter and Repatriation
After their release, the six stayed at a shelter run under the supervision of an Indian human rights organisation. With help from the diplomatic missions of Bangladesh and India, they were sent home through Benapole.
A Familiar Pattern
Their return is the latest in a series of repatriations through Benapole. Earlier this year, 14 Bangladeshis came back after serving two to three years in Punjab Central Jail. A group of 18 followed in September, including a woman who had spent 15 years in an Indian prison. A field coordinator of the group Justice and Care said earlier returnees had fallen victim to job fraud and trafficking networks.
The six are now back on Bangladeshi soil after years away. As adults, such returnees are normally allowed to rejoin their families once formalities are complete. Officials say many cases like theirs begin with broker promises of better pay.
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