India taking back citizens stranded in Bangladesh

The Indian authorities have finally taken initiatives to take back more than 2,500 of their citizens who got stranded in Bangladesh due to the Covid-19 situation.

The stranded Indians would be allowed to enter India through Benapole-Petrapole border on Saturday and Sunday, an official of Indian High Commission in Dhaka, told The Daily Star yesterday.

The official said the stranded people will have to show the token they received after getting registered with the high commission through online only to cross the border.

"The border will be opened for temporary basis on humanitarian grounds as they got stranded in Bangladesh for a long time. Decision about opening the borders permanently will be taken later," the officials said wishing anonymity.

However, some stranded Indians have already crossed the border on Wednesday, one of the stranded Indians told this correspondent from India.

"At least 70 people were with us," the Indian said

through a messenger service yesterday.

The Daily Star on Tuesday published a report on the sufferings of the stranded Indian citizens as they got stuck here for more than five months due to the lockdown and travel restrictions imposed for Covid-19 pandemic since mid-March.

Frustrated, a number of stranded Indian citizens, many of whom are connected through messenger services, had been planning to stage a demonstration at Benapole on August 24, seeking steps from Indian authorities about their return.

Early this month, India's Ministry of External Affairs sought approval from West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee-led government to take back the state's 2,680 people stranded in Bangladesh since the Covid-19 lockdown began in March.

In a letter dated August 7, it stated that 2,399 people want to return to their villages in West Bengal through the Petrapole-Benapole integrated check post (ICP), while 281 people want to enter through Phulbari-Banglabandha border, reported Indian news portal The Print.

The letter, sent by MEA Additional Secretary Vikram Doraiswami to West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha, stated that the stranded people are "unskilled or semi-skilled" labourers, and have been living in "extreme distress" under the lockdown, with no financial support.

"They are all from weaker sections of our society. Many are living in extreme distress, including sheltering in school verandas or public parks, and are increasingly desperate to return home. It is not feasible for them to fly home; they can only hope to return if they are allowed to travel by rail or road."

It said Delhi has offered to arrange trains and vehicles for them once the West Bengal government approves.