Tripura: 12 Bangladeshi nationals repatriated after two years in jail

AGARTALA: Twelve Bangladeshi nationals, comprising six females and six males, who had entered Tripura illegally in search of work with the assistance of touts, were repatriated on Tuesday (February 06) after completing the requisite legal procedures and spending over two years in jail.

The repatriation process took place through the Agartala-Akhaura Integrated Check Post in Tripura.

Arif Mohammad, assistant high commissioner of Bangladesh in Agartala, expressed satisfaction with the repatriation, stating, “Today is a very pleasant day for us. We are happy to declare that 12 Bangladeshi nationals who had been detained in Tripura and were waiting to be repatriated to Bangladesh will be sent back today. We have completed all the formalities to facilitate their return to Bangladesh. It's a joyous moment for them, as their family members have been eagerly waiting to receive them. They have been in Tripura, waiting for an extended period, ranging from 6 months to 2 years, primarily due to various formalities. Their entry into Tripura was facilitated without legal documents, with the help of touts.”

Expressing gratitude to the Indian government and the Tripura government, Mohammad highlighted that the repatriated individuals included six adult females, six adult males, and one minor girl.

He noted that they had entered India without valid documents, seeking employment, and had been apprehended by local law enforcement agencies, subsequently undergoing the necessary legal procedures.

Providing further details, he mentioned that the minor girl had been taken illegally by her relatives, who compelled her to work in their home, subjecting her to torture and oppression. However, she managed to leave home, sought refuge with the police, and is now returning home after three years.