Four Indians return home a year after alleged BSF push-in

Four Indian nationals, who had been living in Bangladesh after allegedly being pushed across the border by India's Border Security Force (BSF), returned to India through Sonamasjid Immigration in Chapainawabganj on Wednesday afternoon after completing immigration formalities with travel passes.

The victims are Danish Sheikh, Sweety Bibi, Qurban Sheikh and Imam Dewan, all residents of Dhrita village under Murarai Police Station in the Birbhum district of West Bengal.

Jamirul Islam, in-charge of Sonamasjid Immigration Police, said all necessary immigration formalities were completed after verifying the travel passes, and the four were allowed to return to India.

According to the victims, they were among six Indian nationals, including two children, who were allegedly forced into Bangladesh by the BSF through the Kurigram border in June 2025.

After moving to different parts of the country, they took shelter in a relative's house in the Alinagar area of Chapainawabganj.

Later, on August 20 last year, Chapainawabganj Sadar Model Police arrested the six Indians there.

Police filed a case against the four adults, excluding the two children, on charges of trespassing.

The four adults were later sent to jail after being produced before a court on charges of illegal entry into Bangladesh.

Following nearly three months in prison, they were granted bail on December 1 and released from Chapainawabganj District Jail on December 5.

However, while India had earlier taken back pregnant Sonali Bibi and her infant son through the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), it initially declined to accept the remaining four. Since then, they had been staying at the house of a relative, Faruk Hossain, in Chapainawabganj town.

Sources said after legal proceedings in India established their citizenship, the Calcutta High Court and later the country's Supreme Court directed the authorities to facilitate their return on humanitarian grounds.

India subsequently issued travel passes to the four, enabling their return through Sonamasjid Immigration at around 3:15 pm on Wednesday.

Before leaving, the returnees expressed gratitude to the people and administration of Bangladesh for their support.