The Indian police have sent back 37 Bangladeshi teenagers who were trafficked to India three years ago.
On Monday afternoon, the Petrapole Immigration Police of India handed them over to the Benapole Checkpost Immigration Police.
Justice and Care, an NGO working to prevent trafficking, will provide legal assistance to these teenagers. Besides, they will also take initiatives to create employment for them.
Among those who have returned, 21 are boys and 16 girls, all of them between the ages of 12-18.
It is learnt that these teenagers are from Comilla, Khulna, Jessore, Gopalganj, Bagerhat, Munshiganj, Satkhira, Thakurgaon, Sunamganj, Narail, Rajshahi, Barisal and Kurigram districts in Bangladesh.
Muhith Hossain, an official of Justice and Care, said that brokers had trafficked them to India two or three years ago by promising them good jobs. Later, though, they were engaged in various forms of hazardous work.
Indian police rescued them from the traffickers and sent them to court. From there they were sent to Indian NGOs Liluya, Dhruv Ashram, Kishoralaya and Sukanya shelter homes. Later, it was verified whether the rescued persons were Bangladeshis, added Muhith.
After the completion of formalities relating to required documents, they were brought to Bangladesh through special travel permits issued by the government of India.
Benapole Immigration Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Ahsan Habib said the men went to India through brokers at different times in the hope of earning money.
The Indian police carried out raids and arrested them. They were sentenced to different prison terms. At the end of the sentences, they were sent back to Bangladesh.
PIc from Internet
