Thirty-six Bangladeshi youths returned home through the Benapole border on Thursday night after completing 17 months in an Indian prison for illegal entry.
The returnees came from Bogura, Khulna, Natore, Chattogram, Dhaka and Cumilla districts. Indian Petrapole immigration authorities handed them over to Benapole Immigration Police around 9:00pm under a special travel permit.
Inspector (Investigation) of Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police Syed Mortaza Ali said the youths travelled to Chennai through illegal channels with the help of traffickers in search of better employment opportunities.
He said Indian police later arrested them on charges of illegal infiltration and an Indian court sentenced them to 17 months in prison. After completing their jail terms at Chennai Central Prison, they stayed at a shelter home run by a human rights organisation.
He added that, with support from the Bangladesh and Indian high commissions and under a special travel permit issued by the Indian government, they were finally repatriated to Bangladesh.
After completing immigration procedures, authorities handed them over to Benapole Port Police Station.
A representative of the rights-based organisation Justice and Care said traffickers lured the youths to India with promises of jobs in garment factories. They later fell victim to fraud and exploitation.
Officials said the organisation has taken responsibility for the returnees and will hand them over to their respective families on Friday.
