Hope & hard-won relief light up Sunali’s home in Birbhum
Times of India | 4 December 2025
Kolkata: As his mobile phone rang on Wednesday morning, 63-year-old Bhodu Sheikh smiled in relief probably for the first time in six months. His eyes glistened with hope as he spoke to his wife Jyotsna Bibi, who was in Delhi waiting for the Supreme Court's order on the couple's daughter Sunali Khatun. Bhodu is now hoping to finally see his pregnant daughter, who was pushed into Bangladesh along with five others in June.
"Since morning, I have been waiting for some news on Sunali. Ever since she was picked up in June, life has become all about travelling Kolkata and Delhi, and knocking the doors of courts. It has all come down to finding every single piece of paper at home to prove that my daughter is an Indian," Bhodu said.
Jyotsna and Sunali's little daughter Anisha boarded a train on Wednesday evening to return to Bengal. Anisha, excited but too anxious to show her relief, repeatedly asked reporters about her mother's well-being. "How is my mother? When will she return? How is my brother and Abba?," she asked. The Class 3 student was told her mother would soon be back home and Anisha's face lit up in hope. "Is Maa alright now?" she asked again. Happy tears glistened in her eyes.
Jyotsna had her own questions. "Hope Sunali is well. Can you tell me how her health is? When is she expected to have her baby? When will she reach home... It's like a dream come true."
At his Birbhum home, Bhodu told TOI, "Sunali's mother could not tell me when we will finally be able to see her. Some say it would be tomorrow, some say it would take 10-12 days to meet her. But at least we know that we would be finally able to see her." He added: "I spoke to Sunali on Monday after her bail from Bangladesh court on video for the first time since she was taken away from us. She kept telling us to be strong," Bhodu said.
"I am grateful to Samirul Islam (TMC MP and chairman of West Bengal Migrants' Welfare Board), to the govt, to lawyers, to my neighbours, to everyone who stood beside us to bring her back. It would not have been possible for us without their help," he added.
Sunali's siblings Karishma and Suraj Sk recounted the family's struggle since her deportation. "It is a great joy to hear that she is returning. I spent around Rs 50,000 trying to arrange her release, but touts duped me. Even cops in Delhi took money from me for releasing her, but later a lawyer told me they had been sent to Bangladesh. By that time, I had already lost Rs 70,000," Suraj recounted.