A total of 21 Bangladeshi teenagers, who had been trafficked to India, in different times within two years, have safely returned home through the Benapole Check post on Wednesday night. Among the trafficked teens, 10 are boys and 11 are girls. Their return was facilitated through special travel permits.
Meanwhile, the process of reuniting the teenagers with their families has started today (Thursday).
Earlier on Wednesday night, (March 19), the Indian immigration authorities formally handed them over to their Bangladeshi counterparts at the Benapole immigration checkpoint at about 9: pm.
The rescued teenagers are, Indrajit Mandol, Pranto Mandol, Mihir Joardar, Khairul Islam, Saikat Alam, Miraj Hossain Rimon, Abu Jubaida Sun, Yasir Arafat, Abid Ahmed, and Apon Biswas. The girls included are Sahida Khatun, Subarna Roy, Snigdha Biswas, Shila Akter, Topa Khanom, Azmira Khatun, Tumpa Mandol, Sumaiya Akter, Dighi Biswas, Sonia Akter, and Sumaiya Akter.
All are from different districts, including Dhaka, Keraniganj, Faridpur, Khulna, Bagerhat, Jashore, Narail, Satkhira, Kishoreganj, and Cox’s Bazar.
Immigration Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Benapole Check post Imtiaz Bhuiyan said that the group was transferred to Benapole Port Police Station the same night.
According to him, subsequently, two NGOs—Rights Jashore and Justice & Care took responsibility for their rehabilitation and reintegration with their families. Of them, Rights Jashore took charge of 10, while Justice & Care took custody of the remaining 11 teens.
According to Justice & Care, the teenagers had fallen victim to traffickers who allured them with false job promises and smuggled them into India through different border routes two years ago. They were apprehended by Indian law enforcement while working at different places there.
Following their detention and imprisonment, they were placed under the care of the Indian human rights organisation Rescue Foundation, which sheltered them until their repatriation was arranged through special travel permits issued by the Indian government.
Muhith Hossain, Senior Program Officer of Justice & Care, stated on Thursday morning that the process of reuniting the teenagers with their families has started on Thursday.