24 BD trafficking victims repatriated through Benapole 

JASHORE, Dec 19: Twenty-four Bangladeshi nationals, including women and children, returned home through the Benapole International Check-post on Thursday evening after being released from a special detention camp in Salem, Tamil Nadu. They were handed over to Bangladeshi authorities by India's Petrapole Immigration Police around 7 pm under a formal travel permit process.

According to immigration police sources, the group had been detained at the Attur Special Camp in Salem, Tamil Nadu, for illegally staying in India. Following lengthy legal procedures, the Indian authorities released them and arranged their return in coordination with the home and foreign ministries of both countries.

On December 16, 2025, an order from the office of the Salem District Collector Dr R Brinda Devi directed that the Bangladeshi nationals be repatriated without delay. Of the returnees, seven are women, five are children, and 12 are men.
Officer-in-Charge (OC( of Benapole Immigration Police SM Sakhawat Hossain said the Indian police arrested them earlier for unlawful stay in the country. After verification of identity and necessary documentation between the two nations, they were sent back to Bangladesh on travel permits. They were later handed over to Benapole Port Police for completion of legal formalities.

Benapole Port Police OC Ashraf said the returnees were subsequently handed over to human rights organisation "Justice and Care" in Jashore to facilitate their safe return to their respective families.

Shafikul Islam, field facilitator of Justice and Care in Jashore, said arrangements are underway to reunite the repatriated individuals with their families. Most of them are couples with children, he said, adding that one is from Cumilla, one from Dhaka, and the rest are from different areas of Bagerhat District.