The plight of a pregnant woman from Birbhum, West Bengal, and her family has sparked outrage after they were allegedly pushed back into Bangladesh and later arrested. The case has raised serious questions about the handling of migrant workers, cross-border pushbacks, and the future nationality of children born under such circumstances.
Family Left in the Dark
Relatives of Sunali Khatun, who is eight months pregnant, say they are devastated as they have no clear information about her condition. Sunali, her husband Danish Sheikh, and their eight-year-old son had been living in Delhi when they were detained by Delhi Police. Branded as “illegal Bangladeshis,” they were allegedly pushed across the border into Bangladesh, where they were later arrested.
“I last spoke to her on August 3. She was crying and told me they had been sent to Bangladesh. After that, her phone got disconnected, and since then, we don’t know where she is,” said her sister Karishma Khatun, her voice breaking with emotion. The family fears that if Sunali delivers her child in Bangladesh, the baby’s nationality will be in question, further complicating their legal status.
Arrest in Bangladesh
Reports confirmed that Sunali, Danish, and their son were arrested in Chapainawabganj, a district in Bangladesh located about 300 kilometers from Dhaka, close to the Indo-Bangla border. They were produced before a local court on Friday and sent to jail custody.
Alongside them, another woman from Birbhum, Sweety Bibi, and her two children—who had worked in Delhi as ragpickers and domestic help—were also pushed back and arrested. This brings the total number of detainees to six.
Political Reaction and Support
The case has attracted political attention in West Bengal. Samirul Islam, Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha member and chairman of the state migrant workers’ welfare board, said:
“We are in touch with the families throughout. Everything is being done so that we can bring them back. The state government is extending full support.”
The incident has further fueled a political debate over the treatment of migrant workers and the recurring allegations of pushbacks into Bangladesh.
Not an Isolated Incident
The episode follows the case of Amir Sheikh, a 21-year-old from Malda, who was detained in Rajasthan, declared a Bangladeshi, and allegedly pushed across the border. He later managed to return home. While local families claimed the Border Security Force (BSF) had pushed him back, the BSF maintained that he had inadvertently crossed into Bangladesh and was detained when attempting to return to India.
Such incidents highlight the fragile position of migrant workers, particularly from states like West Bengal, where poverty pushes thousands to seek work in cities across India. Allegations of wrongful detention and cross-border pushbacks have grown in frequency, leaving families in limbo and exposing the human cost of border politics.
Concerns Over Citizenship and Human Rights
Rights activists warn that the situation raises grave concerns under both humanitarian and legal frameworks. A major worry is the citizenship of children born in detention or across the border, as in the case of Sunali’s unborn child. The uncertainty could render them stateless, without access to essential rights, education, or healthcare.
Further, civil society organizations point out that branding Indian citizens as foreigners without proper verification undermines constitutional protections. “If poor workers without proper documents are arbitrarily declared foreigners and pushed across borders, it sets a dangerous precedent,” said one activist monitoring migrant issues in Bengal.
Growing Calls for Intervention
With mounting pressure on both governments, the families hope for diplomatic intervention to ensure the safe return of those detained. Opposition leaders and rights groups are also urging the central government to clarify its stance and prevent further wrongful pushbacks.
As the situation unfolds, Sunali’s family in Birbhum waits anxiously. For them, the biggest fear is whether Sunali will deliver her baby behind bars in Bangladesh—leaving her child’s future clouded in uncertainty.
