In a distressing turn of events, a young Indian woman from West Bengal, recently released from a Bangladesh prison, found herself confined to a police station overnight, extending her family's prolonged ordeal across the border. Sunali Khatun, 28, along with her husband, son, and another woman with her children, were taken into police custody hours after their bail was secured, sparking fresh fears and uncertainty about their return to India.
From Prison to Police Station: A Night of Fear
Speaking to TOI from Bangladesh using a borrowed phone, Sunali Khatun described the terrifying experience. Late on Monday night, she, her husband Danish Sk, their eight-year-old son Shabir, Sweety Biwi, and Biwi's two children were taken to the Chapai Nawabganj Sadar Model police station. This occurred just hours after they were granted bail following nearly 100 days in prison.
"I was terribly frightened when police took us... for which I did not have an iota of sleep," Sunali revealed. The move contradicted earlier assurances she had received. She had informed her family in India that police had promised she could stay safely outside jail after her afternoon release. The news of the night-time detention left her parents and daughter in India "petrified."
"My family only wanted to know when I would be back in India, but I have no clue. I also want to know when I could be back," she said, highlighting the central anxiety plaguing the group.
Legal Tangles and a Promise of Safety
The group's legal troubles in Bangladesh stem from charges under The Control of Entry Act, 1952. However, a significant observation was made by the Bangladesh trial court that granted them bail. The court noted that "they were forcibly brought to Bangladesh." This aligns with Sunali's account to the police during questioning on Tuesday, where she stated they were picked up in Delhi for speaking Bangla and later pushed across the border.
The bail order also referenced the ongoing legal proceedings in India, including the order of the Calcutta High Court and the pending matter in the Supreme Court. The Bangladesh court has instructed local authorities to maintain detailed records and report every 10 days, while also asking the country's home ministry to be involved.
Social worker Sk Mofizul, who has been providing legal aid, explained that the police station detention was "for their safety," citing health concerns for one of the members. He added that a senior officer had met Sunali to reassure her. The group was later moved to a rented house on Tuesday.
The Road Back to India
Efforts to repatriate the family are underway. Samirul Islam, chairperson of the West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board and a Trinamool MP, confirmed the matter is scheduled to be heard in the Supreme Court of India on Wednesday. He shared the bail order on social media platform X and expressed commitment to bringing them home.
"We are trying to bring them back at the earliest, and our CM Mamata Banerjee is providing all support," Islam stated. The group is likely to be produced before a Bangladesh court again on Wednesday, adding another layer to their complex legal journey before they can hope to return to Kolkata.
This case underscores the vulnerable position of migrant workers and the protracted legal and diplomatic challenges they can face when caught in cross-border disputes, with families enduring immense psychological stress while awaiting resolution.
