Pregnant Bengal woman forced into Bangladesh returns home, vows never to return to Delhi

The joy of return was brief, fragile and heavy with unanswered questions. On December 6, Sunali Khatun, 25, the pregnant woman allegedly forced across the Bangladesh border earlier this year came home to West Bengal after nearly six months of uncertainty, separation and legal battle.

But the reunion quickly shifted from emotional relief to medical urgency. Hours after reaching Paikar village in Birbhum, Sunali collapsed and was rushed to Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital, where she remains under observation.

She had already spent 24 hours in medical custody in Malda after re-entering India via the Mehadipur checkpoint on Friday.

Her return was facilitated only after the Supreme Court directed the Union government to ensure she was safely brought back. The Centre later informed the court it was acting on “humanitarian grounds”.

Yet, Sunali’s homecoming is incomplete. Her husband, Danish Sheikh, and another detained family — 32-year-old Sweety Bibi and her two children — remain in Bangladesh custody as the government continues to contest their citizenship status.

‘Delhi destroyed everything’

As neighbours gathered outside her home, Sunali spoke in measured anger — and exhaustion.

“It was in Delhi that everything went wrong,” she said. “We were detained, called illegal, and pushed into Bangladesh. We kept saying we are from Bengal, we are Indians — but no one heard us.”

She recalls a stark contrast in treatment.
“Bangladesh jail staff treated me better than Delhi Police,” she said. “I will never go back to Delhi.”

Sunali and her family had been living in the national capital as migrant labourers when they were detained on June 18. Days later, on June 26, they were allegedly escorted across the border and left in Bangladesh — triggering outrage, legal petitions and political scrutiny.

A reunion — and a plea

When she finally stepped into her village on December 6, her five-year-old daughter ran into her arms. Her father, Bhodu Sheikh, watched silently — relief clouded by the absence of the others still across the border.

“We are thankful she is safe,” he said. “But our family is not complete. We want her husband and the rest home too.”

As she waits for her medical condition to stabilize, Sunali says the next battle is emotional — and unfinished.

“My husband and the others are still there,” she said softly, before fatigue overtook her voice. “I only want one thing now — please bring them back.”