In a significant development, a heavily pregnant Indian woman and her family, who were detained in Bangladesh for over three months, have finally been released on bail. Sunali Khatun, along with her husband, their young son, and another woman, walked out of a Chapai Nawabganj jail on Monday evening, marking a partial victory in their long ordeal.
A Grueling Three-and-a-Half Month Ordeal
Sunali Khatun, who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy, was pushed into Bangladesh by Indian authorities in June. She was accused of being an illegal settler. Alongside her, her husband Danish Sk, their eight-year-old son Shabir, and Sweety Biwi were also detained. The group spent a total of three-and-a-half months in prison before their release around 7:30 PM on Monday.
The bail was secured after a Bangladeshi national, Farooq Ali, provided surety and a bail bond of 5,000 Bangladeshi Taka. Their families in India have consistently argued in courts that they are legitimate residents of Birbhum district in West Bengal. They claim the family was mistakenly identified as Bangladeshi nationals while they were working as ragpickers in Delhi.
Emotional Plea for Return and Political Intervention
Speaking to the media over the phone from Bangladesh, an emotional and weary Sunali Khatun expressed her desperate desire to come home. "I want to return home to India immediately. I have not been feeling well these days," she said. She extended her heartfelt gratitude to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee for their support throughout the crisis.
"Without them, we would have remained in jail here," Sunali stated, acknowledging the political backing that aided their case. However, uncertainty looms as the Chapai Nawabganj police have asked the group to report to the police station. "I do not know what is happening or why the police want to speak to me again. I just hope that I return home quickly," she added before ending the call.
Legal Conditions and the Road to Repatriation
The bail order, issued by Senior Judicial Magistrate Ashraful Haque, was granted on humanitarian grounds considering Sunali's pregnancy. The court reviewed her ultrasonography (USG) report and directed that she receive proper medical treatment, including hospitalization if necessary. However, the order carries specific conditions.
Public Prosecutor Md Abdul Wadud clarified that the release was conditional. The group must appear before the court when required, and the local police station (Sadar thana) has been instructed to submit a report to the court every ten days. Crucially, social worker Sk Mofizul, who facilitated the release, pointed out a major hurdle: the bail order does not contain any directive for their repatriation to India. For now, Mofizul has arranged a rented house for the group in Nayagola, Chapai Nawabganj.
Back in India, the family's fight continues. Sunali's father, Bhodu Sheikh, expressed joy at the news but hopes for a swift reunion. Samirul Islam, Chairperson of the West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, highlighted the Supreme Court's involvement, saying, "The Supreme Court has already asked for their return. Now, it is the responsibility of the Centre to hold talks with the Bangladeshi government and bring them back." The case underscores the complex human cost of migration and identification disputes between the neighboring nations.
