A total of 39 Bangladeshi nationals, including five women and two children, were handed over to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) through the Meherpur border on Tuesday.

The handover took place in the afternoon near pillar no. 147 of the Kazipur border in Gangni upazila during a flag meeting between the two border forces.

According to Kayyum Hossain, acting company commander of the Kazipur BGB camp, the individuals had illegally entered India at different times and were later arrested. Following court verdicts, they served varying prison terms in different Indian jails.

After completing their sentences, Indian police brought them to the Bijoypur BSF camp, from where they were repatriated to Bangladesh.

Gangni Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Bani Israil said the returnees were taken into police custody after being handed over by BGB. Their identities are being verified, and further legal steps will follow. The repatriated Bangladeshis are residents of different districts across the country.