20 trafficked Bangladeshi children return from India
In late 2025, they were detained by Indian authorities.
Twenty Bangladeshi children who were trafficked to India and later completed prison terms for illegal entry have returned home through the Benapole checkpost under special travel permits.
The children were handed over to Bangladesh immigration authorities by India's Petrapole immigration police yesterday evening (13 May). The returnees comprise 13 girls and seven boys.
Officials said the children are from Jashore, Narail, Khulna and Bagerhat districts.
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Benapole Immigration Police Officer-in-Charge Shakhawat Hossain said the children had entered India illegally in early 2024 through brokers along with their parents. Their parents were later engaged in domestic and agricultural work in West Bengal.
In late 2025, they were detained by Indian authorities. A court subsequently convicted them of illegal entry and sentenced them to various terms of imprisonment.
Following completion of their terms, they were placed in several shelter homes in West Bengal with the intervention of a human rights organisation.
The children were repatriated on Wednesday evening through special travel permits with the cooperation of authorities from both countries.
After completing immigration procedures, the children were handed over to Benapole Port Police Station.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Benapole Port Police Station Ashraf Hossain said they were subsequently handed over to three human rights organisations – Justice and Care, Women Lawyers' Association, and Rights Jashore – that will reunite them with their families after completing formalities.
