Seven Bangladeshi nationals including six women returned home through Benapole check-post on Saturday evening after serving six years in an Indian prison.

They were handed over to the Benapole Immigration Police by India’s Petrapole Immigration authorities under a special travel permit issued by the Indian government.

The returnees are Monika Akter (21), Lili Begum (31), Kajol Gazi (27), Ambia Bibi (32), Aklima Khatun (22), Sabina Bibi (25), and Islam Sardar (57). 

They hail from different districts including Dhaka, Satkhira, Khulna, Jashore and Bogura.

Benapole Immigration Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ibrahim Ahmed said they had entered India illegally about seven years ago through human traffickers in search of better livelihood opportunities. 

While working as domestic help in Kolkata, they were detained by Indian police and later sentenced to six years in prison for illegal entry.

Upon completion of their sentences, they were taken into custody by an Indian NGO and placed in a shelter home. 

With assistance from the embassies of both countries and following necessary legal procedures, they were sent back to Bangladesh under special travel permits.

After immigration formalities, the returnees were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station. 

Rights Jessore, a local NGO, will take responsibility for their rehabilitation.

Jawadul Karim, psychosocial counsellor at Rights Jessore, said the organisation received the returnees from police custody. 

One of them, Islam Sardar, was reunited with his family on Saturday night. 

Efforts are underway to contact the families of the remaining six women for their safe return home, he said.