A total of 47 Bangladeshi nationals, including four women, returned home through the Benapole checkpost Thursday night after serving two years in an Indian prison.

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) members handed them over to Benapole Immigration Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) at around 8pm.

The returnees, comprising 43 men and four women, hail from various areas across Narail, Gopalganj and Satkhira districts.

Saifur Rahman, Benapole Immigration Police Officer-in-Charge (OC), said the individuals had illegally entered Tamil Nadu state two and a half years ago through human traffickers in hopes of finding better employment.

bThey were arrested by local police while working in various households.

Upon completing their two-year court-mandated prison sentences, they were kept in private shelter homes at Attur in Salem and Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) camp in Tamil Nadu.

They returned home Thursday evening under special travel permits issued by the Indian government following diplomatic communication between the foreign ministries of both countries.

After completing immigration formalities, police transferred the returnees to Benapole Port Police Station.

Three non-governmental organizations-Bangladesh Women Lawyers Association, Rights Jashore and Justice & Care-received them from the police station to reunite them with their respective families.