6 trafficked Bangladeshi girls brought back from India

Six Bangladeshi girls, sent to India by human traffickers at different times through different borders, were brought back to Bangladesh yesterday.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) received them, aged about between 17 and 24, from Border Security Force (BSF) of India at Banglabandha border check post, reports our correspondent in Thakurgaon.

The traffickers deceived them into crossing the border by promising them better job opportunity at the neighbouring country, said police.

Non-governmental organisation (NGO) Brac with the assistance of Impulse NGO Network, based in Meghalaya of India, made the arrangements for the return of the girls who had been staying at a safe home in Chennai after being rescued from different parts of India.

After receiving the six returnees from BGB, Tentulia police handed them over to their families, officer-in-charge of Tentulia Police Station Jahurul Islam said.

Brac officials including Barrister Jenefa Khanam Jabbar, director of Brac’s human rights and legal aid services programme, were present during the programme. 

Mother of a returnee, from Narail, said her daughter, now 17, went missing seven years ago when she went to attend a programme at a friend of hers at a nearby village.

INDIA SENDS 5 BANGLADESHI TEENS BACK

Meanwhile, at Benapole immigration check post, immigration police of India handed over five Bangladeshi teenagers -- four girls and one boy -- to Bangladesh immigration police after they served a year in an Indian jail for illegal entry, reports our correspondent in Benapole.

Abul Bashar, officer-in-charge of the check post, said the youngsters -- from different parts of Narail, Satkhira and Jashore -- were later handed over to Benapole Port Police Station.

A Kolkata court sentenced the five to jail after Indian police produced them before it following their arrest in Kolkata of West Bengal one and half years ago for entering the country without necessary documents.