Forty-seven Bangladeshi citizens, featuring four women alongside forty-three men originating from various localities within Narail, Gopalganj, and Satkhira, arrived back in Bangladesh on Thursday night via the Benapole land port after completing a two-year imprisonment term in India.

Personnel belonging to the Indian Border Security Force formally handed the group over to the Benapole Immigration Police and the Border Guard Bangladesh at approximately 8 pm.

Saifur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the Benapole immigration checkpost, explained that these individuals had unlawfully crossed into the Indian state of Tamil Nadu two and a half years prior, enticed by human traffickers promising prospective employment opportunities, before being apprehended by local law enforcement while engaged in domestic labor.

Following the conclusion of their court-ordered sentences, the repatriates were housed within designated shelter facilities located at Attur in Salem and the Tiruchirappalli camp in Tamil Nadu, ultimately securing their release and transit home under special travel permits issued by the Indian government as a result of sustained diplomatic dialogues between the foreign ministries of both nations.

Upon the finalization of necessary border processing procedures, law enforcement transferred the entire group to the Benapole Port Police Station.

Three humanitarian organizations—namely the Bangladesh Women Lawyers Association, Rights Jashore, and Justice & Care—subsequently took charge of the returnees from police custody to facilitate their safe reunification with their families.

With Inputs from UNB