A 62-year-old man from Tripura, Shahjahan, returned to his family on Tuesday after a harrowing 35-year incarceration in Bangladesh. Shahjahan, also known as Bilas, crossed into Bangladesh in 1988 to visit relatives but was wrongfully imprisoned on false charges.
His ordeal began with his arrest in 1988 and was marred by brutal torture.
“I endured 14 days of severe abuse—being hung from a fan, doused with hot water, and having chili powder rubbed on my face. After my 11-year sentence ended, I was held illegally for another 24 years,” Shahjahan recalled, describing the torture he suffered under the Bangladeshi police.
Despite his release, Shahjahan’s journey home was fraught with challenges.
His family, determined to secure his freedom, worked tirelessly with Mosahid Ali of the Zara Foundation in Agartala and coordinated with both Indian and Bangladeshi authorities. Their efforts culminated in Shahjahan's repatriation through the Bibir Bazar-Sonamura Srimantpur check post.
Shahjahan expressed his relief and emotional turmoil upon his return. “It feels like I’ve arrived in heaven. I missed 35 years, missing out on raising my son and seeing my granddaughter born,” he said, visibly moved.
Mosahid Ali condemned the inhumane treatment Shahjahan endured and underscored the broader issue of unjust imprisonment faced by Indian citizens in Bangladesh.
“There is an urgent need for the release of others still imprisoned in Bangladesh. The government should work to bring them swiftly back to their motherland,” he stated.
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