‘Push-in’ victim Sonali Bibi returns to India from Bangladesh

Authorities say BSF pushed her and her six family members through Kurigram border into Bangladesh

The Border Guard Bangladesh has sent back to India Sonali Bibi and her family, including their two children.

Sonali is also pregnant and on bail in a case for intruding into Bangladesh. She was also accompanied by six members of her family, including her eight-year-old child.

BGB Commander Lt Col Golam Kibria told journalists Sonali and her son were handed over to the Indian Border Security Force through a meeting at Sonamasjid at 7:30pm on Friday.

The BSF had pushed Sonali and six members of her family through the Kurigram border into Bangladesh. Police in Bangladesh arrested them from Chapainawabganj on Aug 20.

The family secured bail in an intrusion case filed against them, except for their two child companions, on Dec 1.

Hearing on the case was deferred thrice.

A media statement issued on Friday said Solani and her family have been handed over to the BSF.

The BGB said the court had directed them to return the family through diplomatic effort considering its human appeal.

“Such inhumane ‘push-in’ by the BSF is a clear violation of international human rights standards and bilateral border-management agreements. The practice has long been creating humanitarian crises in the border areas and is being identified as an obstacle to friendly border management between the two countries,” said Kibria.