16-year-old Bangla girl crosses hurdles, border to return home
Times of India | 21 November 2024
1234 Kolkata: A 16-year-old girl from Chittagong in Bangladesh, who was rescued from traffickers near Belur, Howrah, and sent to a shelter home in Liluah in Dec last year, could finally return home across the international border on Wednesday. Her reunion with her family could take place, thanks to year-long pursuit by her 21-year-old brother, who even visited Kolkata in April to secure all the permissions.
Helped by the Bangladesh and Indian external affairs departments and NGO Shakti Vahini, the brother-sister duo managed to cut through the bureaucracy and financial hurdles earlier this month and the final letter of consent from the MEA in India reached her brother in Bangladesh about 10 days ago. The Bangladesh external affairs ministry on July 1 had written to its Indian counterpart, declaring the minor girl was a bona fide resident of Bangladesh and that the repatriation process could be initiated. As the teenager finally met her family, she broke down and thanked everyone in India for the help. Her brother, who had strived hard to get her back, stood on the Benapole side of the border in Bangladesh as she walked across. "The girl promised not to make similar mistakes that had landed her here in the first place," said Gargi Sarkar, the girl's advocate who helped her through her stay in India and arranged for her return. "It was a fulfilling day, the minor girl could finally go back to her country, to her family. She was extremely grateful for all the support she received from the state and Centre. We also thank the Bangladesh authorities for their intervention so that the girl could return home safely."
Twenty-five other women were also repatriated to Bangladesh on Tuesday through Petrapole.
The girl's brother said she was in Class IX when she left home on Dec 3 last year. "My sister was promised to be united with a friend and was put on a train to Kolkata," the brother told TOI. "In Kolkata, "She realised she was in India when she heard people speaking in a different dialect. Five persons put her on a bus. Near Belur, she raised an alarm and she was rescued on Dec 6. Two days later, I received a call from the shelter home, saying they could release her to a guardian."
Being his family's sole breadwinner, it took the brother a while to arrange for finances, ready his and his sister's papers, and get permission from his employer. "In Kolkata, I went to the Sealdah GRP, who connected me with NGO Shakti Vahini. With NGO members, I went to the Liluah home. I had to go back to Bangladesh at that time, but I never gave up hope. Despite the delays, I firmly believed that with govt help, I would be able to take my sister home," said the youth.
Social worker Rishikant from Shakti Vahini said, "We thank the state and the Centre for the girl's safe return home, but I feel repartition should be time-bound so that survivors don't need to languish in protection homes."