In a story of resilience and a miraculous turn of fate, Sunali Khatun, a pregnant woman from Birbhum who was wrongly declared an illegal immigrant and spent months in a Bangladesh jail, has welcomed a healthy baby boy. The birth occurred on Monday at a state-run hospital in West Bengal, marking a joyous new chapter after a harrowing ordeal.
A Miraculous Birth After Months of Adversity
The journey to this moment was fraught with hardship. Sunali Khatun, 26, was banished to Bangladesh in June along with her family after being falsely identified as an illegal immigrant. She endured over 100 days in a Bangladeshi jail while in an advanced state of pregnancy, a period her family describes as nothing short of traumatic.
"For us, this is nothing short of a miracle," her brother Suraj told TOI. "The child was born healthy despite Sunali being in jail for over 100 days in an advanced state of pregnancy." The family's prayers were answered when the Supreme Court of India intervened on humanitarian grounds, leading to Sunali and her eight-year-old son Shabir being escorted back to India on December 6.
The Road to Repatriation and Recovery
After returning to her home in Paikar, Birbhum, Sunali's labour pains began late on Sunday. She was promptly moved to the hospital where medical professionals, assessing her condition, decided to perform a Caesarean section for the safe delivery of her son.
While Sunali and her eldest son are now safe on Indian soil, a part of her family remains separated. Her husband, Danish Sk, and three other relatives are still in Bangladesh, awaiting a final order for their repatriation. Their release from jail and return to India is the family's next fervent hope.
A Special Request for the Chief Minister
In a heartwarming gesture that underscores the emotional significance of this new life, Sunali's family has expressed a special wish. Her mother, Jyotsna Bibi, revealed that Sunali wants West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to name her newborn son.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was attending events at the Kapil Muni temple in Gangasagar on Monday, was informed of the birth. She immediately asked officials to convey her best wishes to the mother and child and to send sweets on her behalf, acknowledging the family's profound struggle and their moment of joy.
The birth of Sunali Khatun's son is more than a personal milestone; it is a powerful symbol of survival against immense bureaucratic and physical odds. It highlights the critical importance of legal intervention and humanitarian consideration in complex cross-border issues affecting ordinary citizens.
