India hands over 7 Bangladeshis, including JMB member Rahmatullah, after 4 years in jail

Seven Bangladeshis were handed over today by Indian authorities after they served a four-year prison sentence there.

According to Officer-in-Charge (OC) Rusel Mia of Benapole Land Port Police Station, the individuals went to India in search of employment but were arrested by the Indian police for illegal entry.

After completing their prison terms, they were released into the custody of an NGO through a general diary, facilitated by travel permits from home ministries of both countries.

Member of the banned militant group Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) named Rahmatullah is linked to a 2012 prison van attack in Trishal, Mymensingh, which resulted in the death of a policeman.

Benapole Check Post Immigration Officer-in-Charge Imtiaz Ahsanul Kader Bhuiyan said Rahmatullah has an arrest warrant against him in Narayanganj.

He was handed over to Narayanganj Police Station for further legal proceedings. 

Rahmatullah is also an accused in Anti-Terrorism Act cases filed at Darussalam Police Station in Dhaka in 2012 and Trishal Police Station in Mymensingh in 2014, he said.

According to police sources, Rahmatullah fled to India after the 2012 attack and the police officer's murder. He was later arrested by Kolkata police on charges of illegal entry and sentenced to prison.

The Bangladesh government confirmed his detention through the Ministry of Home Affairs. Following his release, he was brought back to Bangladesh under a special travel permit, jointly issued by both governments.

The other six Bangladeshis also completed their four-year prison sentences. Among them, one was a woman from Dinajpur and the five men were from Patuakhali.