16 teenage human trafficking victims return from India
The returnees are residents of Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Jashore, Khulna, Bandarban, Thakurgaon and Narail districts
Sixteen teenagers, victims of human trafficking, returned to Bangladesh yesterday (30 January) from India after finishing after serving various terms of imprisonment.
Indian police sent back the teenagers - 10 boys and 6 girls - on special travel permits through the Benapole checkpost, Immigration Police's Benapole Checkpost Officer-in-Charge Imtiaz Ahmed told The Business Standard today (31 January).
The Petrapole Immigration Police of India handed them over to the Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police yesterday evening, he added.
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The returnees are residents of Rajshahi, Dinajpur, Jashore, Khulna, Bandarban, Thakurgaon and Narail districts.
They have been identified as Nur Amin, Kausar Ali, Dipu Sarker, Puja, Mithila Das, Sonia Khatun, Amrita Ghosh, Rabiya Khatun, Noyon Bishwas, Samad Molla, Momin Molla, Ashikul Islam, Deb Das, Rashidul Islam, Toriqul Islam and Ziad Molla, according to OC Imtiaz.
"They have been handed over to a human rights organisation called Rights Jashore, which will provide them legal assistance and help them reach their families," the OC added.
Rights Jashore's Senior Officer Taufiquzzaman said the victims were lured by traffickers with lucrative jobs to go to India illegally.
"There, they were arrested by the Indian police on charges of illegal entry. Later, when the police handed them over to the court, three Indian human rights organisations - Shukanya, Kisholay and Subayan Shelter Home rescued them and kept them in shelter homes.
"Later, they were given the opportunity to return with special travel permits issued by the two countries," he said.
