A man from Sunamganj has returned to Bangladesh through the Sheola Land Port in Sylhet after serving a prison sentence in India, nearly four years after he went missing, officials said on Thursday.

Md Zakir Hossain, 34, son of Md Abdul Mannan of Kalikapur village in Doarabazar upazila of Sunamganj, was handed over to the Bangladeshi authorities by India's Border Security Force (BSF) through the Sheola Immigration Check Post in Beanibazar at around 10 am.

According to his family, Zakir had been suffering from mental health issues before he went missing in mid-2021.

Family members said they searched extensively for him in different places after his disappearance but failed to trace him. Having exhausted all efforts, they eventually lost hope of finding him.

About a year after he went missing, the family learned through a local human rights activist in India that Zakir was being held in Silchar jail.

With the assistance of the rights activist, the family completed the required legal formalities, including obtaining a travel permit, paving the way for his repatriation.

Following the completion of all procedures, Zakir was brought back to Bangladesh through the Sheola Land Port.

His return after nearly four years has brought relief and joy to his family.

"We are grateful to the Almighty for bringing our son back. We had almost given up hope of ever seeing him again," said his father, Abdul Mannan.

Asked how Zakir had crossed into India, he said the family did not know.

SI M H Sajal, in-charge of the Sheola Land Port Immigration Police, said Zakir was received in the presence of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the BSF and immigration officials from both countries.

After verification of his identity and completion of legal formalities, he was handed over to his family, the official added.