21 Bangladeshi women and men, including children, who were trafficked to India under pretext of better job opportunities, returned to Bangladesh after serving various sentences.
They were handed over to Immigration Police at Benapole checkpoint by Indian police through special travel permits.
Indian Petrapole Immigration Police transferred the trafficked Bangladeshis to Benapole Immigration Police, as confirmed by Benapole Immigration Police officer Imtiaz Mohammad Ahsanul Kader Bhuiyan.
The returned women and children are residents of Jashore, Satkhira, Khulna and Narail districts.
An organisation named 'Rights Jessore' received 10 of them, and another organisation 'Justice and Care' took in 11 others for legal assistance. They had been detained for illegally entering India through various border routes.
Senior Program Officer of Justice and Care’s Jessore branch Abdul Muhit said that they were trafficked through brokers under the guise of better job opportunities and went to India via different border routes.
During this period, the Indian police arrested them for illegal entry and sent them to jail.
Afterward, a human rights organization in India provided legal assistance and helped release them from court custody.
After serving various sentences, they were given the opportunity to return to Bangladesh with the help of both governments through special travel permits.
The official also mentioned that if the returnees identify the traffickers and seek legal assistance, support will be provided.
SKR/SH
