Odisha Native to Return Home After a Decade in Bangladesh
In a heartening development, Sudam Hembram, a resident of Odisha's Mayurbhanj district who had been missing for ten long years, has been found in Bangladesh and is set to be repatriated to India. The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has officially communicated this information to the Odisha chief secretary, Manoj Ahuja, and other senior officials, marking a significant step towards reuniting Sudam with his family.
The Repatriation Process and Official Communications
The repatriation will be carried out through the Haridaspur/Benapole checkpost located along the international border with West Bengal. While the exact date is yet to be finalized, it will be communicated by the Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB), the paramilitary force guarding the nation's borders. Kalyan Kumar Halder, an attaché (consular) at the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, stated that the family members in India are to be informed accordingly.
The high commission has ensured a coordinated effort by also informing the Bengal chief secretary, the foreigners’ branch of the Bengal home and hill affairs department, the DIG (east) of the Border Security Force (BSF), and the special secretaries (home) of both Odisha and Bengal. Sudipta Roy, head of chancery at the high commission, confirmed they are awaiting the final date from the Bangladeshi authorities.
Discovery and Identity Verification
The remarkable story of Sudam's discovery began on October 20, when a Bangladeshi social worker, Md Abdul Goni Fitu, found him in a distressed state at the Golabari railway station in the Chapai Nawabganj district. A crucial clue that revealed his origins was Sudam's chant of 'Jai Jagannath', which led Fitu to realize he was an Indian.
Fitu then ingeniously used ham radio clubs in both India and Bangladesh to establish contact with Sudam's family. The connection was solidified when Sudam’s nephew, Subhas Chandra Hembram, recognized him from a photograph sent by Fitu. Following a report by the Times of India on October 28, the Mayurbhanj administration and police conducted field inquiries the very next day, confirming his identity beyond doubt. Halder from the High Commission also confirmed that the Odisha government has successfully verified Sudam's Indian nationality.
Preparations for a Homecoming and Healthcare
Currently, Sudam is staying at the home of his benefactor, Md Abdul Goni Fitu, in Bangladesh. As preparations for his return intensify, Utpal Roy, a social worker from Kolkata who advocated for Sudam, has revealed that the family members will travel to the border to receive him.
Roy has also made appeals to the Odisha government for support. He has urged the state to provide accommodation for Sudam's family at Utkal Bhawan in Kolkata to facilitate their journey to the border. Furthermore, emphasizing the need for proper care, Roy has suggested that upon his return to Odisha, Sudam should be admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar for essential mental health support. He also requested that the government arrange accommodation for Sudam's attendants at the AIIMS dharamsala or a nearby guesthouse.
This case highlights the power of cross-border human compassion and the meticulous work of officials and social workers in ensuring a citizen's return home after a prolonged and difficult period.
