After nearly five decades of separation caused by the border barbed-wire fence, Firdousi Khatun, a Bangladeshi resident, was able to see her deceased father one last time at the zero line of the India-Bangladesh border following a joint humanitarian initiative by the border guard forces of both nations.
The emotional final reunion took place at around 11:30am on Thursday at the zero line near Border Pillar No 105 on the Mujibnagar Swadhinata Sarani in Meherpur.
The deceased, Monruddin Sheikh, was a resident of Hridoypur village under Chapra Police Station in Nadia district of West Bengal, India. According to family information, he was over 100 years old at the time of his passing.
His eldest daughter among six children, Firdousi Khatun, moved to Bangladesh approximately 45 to 50 years ago after marrying Israfil, settling in Sonapur Natanpara under Bagowan Union in Mujibnagar Upazila of Meherpur district. Following the construction of the barbed-wire fence along the India-Bangladesh border, all communication with her paternal home was severed, leaving her unable to see or directly contact her father for decades.
Upon receiving the news of her father’s demise, Firdousi expressed a desperate longing to see him one last time. Responding to her plea, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and India’s Border Security Force (BSF) coordinated to arrange the meeting at the border zero line.
Expressing her feelings, Firdousi Khatun said, “I could not see my father directly for nearly 50 years. Due to the border, there was no contact with my father. Upon receiving the news of my father’s death, I had an intense wish to see him one last time. Today I was able to see my father. But I never thought that this meeting would be our last. I am grateful to those who made it possible for me to see my father’s face one last time”.
The Bangladeshi side at the zero line was led by BGB Mujibnagar Headquarters Company Commander Subedar Enayet Hossain, while a six-member Indian delegation attended, led by BSF Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sunil Kumar.
Subedar Enayet Hossain said, “We gave serious consideration to this humanitarian situation involving a family long separated due to the border. Through the coordination of the border guard forces of both countries, the daughter was provided the opportunity to see her father for the last time. Alongside border security, we also give importance to humanitarian matters”.
