30 Bangladeshi men, women detained in India return home – National – observerbd.com

Thirty Bangladeshis, including men and women, returned home through the Benapole Checkpost on Friday after serving different terms in Indian prisons.

They were handed over by the Petrapole Immigration Police to the Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police at about 5:30pm through travel permits.

The Bangladeshis had to stay behind bars in India two to eight years even after completing their prison sentences.

The poverty-stricken Bangladeshis went to India through illegal ways two to eight years ago being lured by brokers for job opportunities and better life. Among them, 10 were men and 20 women. They were caught by police while working as servants at homes in different Indian states including Mumbai and Kolkata. Eleven non-government organisations (NGOs) including Sanglap, Liloya and Sushilon secured their release from prisons and kept them in their shelter homes. Later, the NGOs arranged their repatriation contacting with the home ministries of India and Bangladesh.

Bangladesh deputy high commissioner to India BM Jamal Hossain said those who returned to Bangladesh through travel permits were handed over to their respective families through three NGOs–Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangstha, Mohila Ainjibi Samity and Justice and Care.

Jashore Human Rights chairman Binoy Krishna Mallick said those who returned home through travel permits on Friday went to different district towns of India being lured by brokers two to eight years ago. Police in those district towns arrested them and handed them over to 11 NGOs of India. They arrived in Bangladesh on Friday on completion of legal processes.

Benapole Immigration officer-in-charge Ahsan Habib confirmed about the arrival of 30 Bangladeshi men and women through Benapole border. They would be handed over to their respective families verifying their addresses. The guardians of the Bangladeshis who have not come to receive them will be kept in a shelter home in Jashore. Later, they will be handed over to their families.