India has repatriated 27 Bangladeshis after they completed three-year prison terms for illegally entering the country.
They were handed over to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) by India's Border Security Force (BSF) late last night at Benapole Land Port. Later, the BGB handed them over to police.
The Bangladeshis crossed the border on special passes provided by India, BGB Commander Mohammad Abdullah said.
They were arrested in Kerala in 2011 after they were sent to India by traffickers who lured them with offers of jobs. They were sentenced to three years in prison, bdnews24.Com reported today.
"Human traffickers had sent them to India, luring them with fake offers of well-paid jobs there," Abdullah said.
Benapole Port police chief Kaiyum Ali Sarder said they had received custody of the 27 Bangladeshis.
They are expected to be released after completing legal formalities.
One of the men, Abdur Rahim, told the Daily Star that they did not have legal documents when Indian police arrested them.
Every year, a number of Bangladeshis illegally enter neighbouring India to try to find jobs but many of them end up in jails.
