In a politically charged gesture, Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday named the newborn son of Sunali Khatun, a woman recently repatriated from Bangladesh, as "Apon" (meaning 'our own' in Bengali). The naming ceremony took place at a hospital in Rampurhat, Birbhum, where Banerjee met the 26-year-old mother a day after she gave birth.
A Gesture of Solidarity Amidst Allegations
Banerjee's visit and the naming act were laden with political symbolism. According to the family, Sunali Khatun had expressed a desire for the TMP MP to name her baby, acknowledging his role in facilitating their return to India. The family's ordeal began six months ago when Sunali, her husband Danish Sheikh, and their eight-year-old son were detained by Delhi Police on suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi migrants.
"We all know what she and her family had to go through. Since she was not physically well, I came here to meet her," Banerjee stated outside the hospital. "She and her mother requested me to name the baby. I have named him 'Apon', our own. This is because the BJP government at the Centre made them distant. We have made them our own."
The Harrowing Journey of Sunali Khatun's Family
The case highlights a contentious issue of alleged wrongful pushbacks. In June, Sunali's family, along with another family from Birbhum's Dhitora village, were reportedly pushed into Bangladesh by the Border Security Force (BSF) following their detention. They were subsequently jailed in Bangladesh for illegal entry.
Banerjee recounted Sunali's testimony: "She narrated to me how they were pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF. Being pregnant, she had to go through all the physical and mental pain. The family spent months in jail. The BJP has to pay the price of their tears." The TMC leader was in Birbhum as part of his 'Abar Jitbe Bangla' rally.
While the Supreme Court later ordered the repatriation of Sunali and her young son considering her pregnancy, her husband, Danish Sheikh, remains in Bangladesh. The matter is still under the Supreme Court's consideration, with the Centre having sought more time.
Legal Battle and Political Fallout
The families had moved the Calcutta High Court demanding their return. The Supreme Court's intervention led to Sunali's repatriation. Banerjee pledged continued support, saying, "We will continue to help the family. Her husband, Danish, is still in Bangladesh. The matter is being heard in the Supreme Court, and the Centre has sought time. We will bring Danish back by appealing to the court."
This incident has become a flashpoint in the ongoing political tussle between the ruling TMC in West Bengal and the BJP-led central government. The TMC has consistently accused the BJP of unfairly targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims as illegal immigrants. The naming of the child "Apon" is a direct political counter-narrative, framing the TMC as the protector of Bengal's people against a hostile central regime.
The event underscores the human cost behind the heated political rhetoric on migration and citizenship, with a newborn child now symbolizing a fierce partisan debate over identity and belonging.
