In a startling incident highlighting cross-border human trafficking, a 35-year-old Bangladeshi national was discovered under suspicious circumstances in Assam's Dhubri district. The woman, identified as Rumia Akhter from Cumilla, was found loitering on a road in Gauripur late on Tuesday night, around 9:30 PM.
Discovery and Initial Response
Alert local residents in Gauripur spotted the disoriented woman and promptly took her to the Gauripur Police Station. Upon initial interaction, Rumia Akhter expressed a desperate wish to return to her hometown in Bangladesh's Sylhet district. With no immediate solution available, the police arranged for her temporary accommodation at a local nursing home for her safety.
By 2 PM the following day, the Gauripur Police had assigned a lady constable to stay at the nursing home, ensuring the woman's security and well-being while her situation was being assessed.
A Harrowing Tale of Trafficking and Escape
Speaking to media personnel, Akhter unveiled a traumatic two-month ordeal. She revealed that she had entered India from the Sylhet district of Bangladesh alongside eight other women. Each had paid a broker a sum of Rs 95,000 with the promise of a better life or work in India.
"The broker provided me with a fake Indian Aadhar card under the name Jhumur Roy to conceal my real identity, which is Rumia Akhter," she recounted. Her narrative took a darker turn as she explained that upon arrival, she and the other women were not taken to jobs but were instead sold to different locations in Delhi.
Displaying immense courage, Akhter managed to escape from her captors. Her journey back towards Bangladesh was long and perilous. She first reached Guwahati and then made her way to Gauripur in Dhubri district. In a bid for official help, she even approached the Coochbehar Police in West Bengal, which borders Dhubri. However, she was directed to seek assistance from the Gauripur Police instead.
Legal Proceedings and Repatriation
Officer-in-Charge of Gauripur Police Station, Dibya Kamal Dutta, confirmed that a formal case has been registered regarding the incident. Following due procedure, the woman has been handed over to the specialized Dhubri District Border Police unit.
The primary focus of the authorities now is her safe return to Bangladesh. The Border Police will handle the necessary coordination with their counterparts across the border to facilitate her repatriation to Sylhet, fulfilling her sole desire to go back home.
This case sheds light on the grim realities of cross-border trafficking networks operating in the region. It underscores the vulnerability of individuals lured by false promises and the critical role of vigilant communities and responsive law enforcement in intervening in such situations.
