13 teenagers return after serving jail term in India

Thirteen Bangladeshi teenagers and a child returned home through Benapole checkpost on Sunday night after serving three years’ jail term in an Indian prison, reports UNB.
 

The returnees are: Sukhi Khatun, 15, and Rupali Khatun, 17, of Jessore; Anwara Khatun, 15, of Satkhira; Nurjahan Khtun, 15, Sumaiya Akter, 16, and Beauty Akter, 16, Sathi Sultana, 19, and her daughter Munni, 3, of Khulna; Tania Khatun, 15, of Brahmanbaria; Asma Khatun, 16, of Magura; Ankhi Akter, 17, of Barisal; Shanta Akter Asha, 16, Sonali Khatun, 15, and Papia, 18, of Narail.

Tariqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Benapole Immigration Police, said the arrestees entered the Indian territory through several border points of Benapole in 2012.
 

Later, Indian police arrested them from Mumbai in India.
 

A case was filed against them and an Indian court awarded them three years’ imprisonment each for crossing the border without valid documents.
 

The Indian government has returned them following repeated requests from the Home Ministry of Bangladesh.
 

Police handed them over to their respective families through Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association.