Ramdev Mahato Returns Home to India
A six-month sentence became six and a half years in prison because of an address error. Persistent family tracing and cross-border coordination finally brought him home.
Ramdev Mahato, a 60-year-old Indian citizen, was sentenced to six months in prison after entering Bangladesh illegally. His sentence ended in May 2019, but an incorrectly recorded address prevented officials from locating his family and completing his repatriation.
On Monday, 15 September 2025, at 11:30 AM, Mahato was formally handed over to his family at the Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj, bringing a prolonged and deeply painful separation to an end.
A long road home
From arrest and address error to identity verification and repatriation
Arrested after crossing the border
Mahato was arrested in Chapainawabganj and charged under four sections of the Control of Entry Act of 1952.
Sentence completed
His six-month sentence ended, but incorrect address information prevented authorities from tracing his family and arranging his return.
Family located in Bihar
Shamsul Huda used digital tools and jail records to trace Mahato’s family to Gudra village in West Champaran district, Bihar.
Identity verified
The Indian High Commission verified Mahato’s identity and issued clearance to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Reunited with his family
After almost 11 months of paperwork and coordination, Mahato was handed over to his son and village representative at Sonamasjid.
The search that changed the case
Digital investigation, persistence and humanitarian commitment
Finding a family across the border
Journalist and social activist Shamsul Huda (S21HD), a member of ARSB, independently works to locate families of Bangladeshi and Indian prisoners held in each other’s countries.
Using a list supplied by Chapainawabganj District Jail and digital research tools, he found Mahato’s family in Gudra village under Majuria police station in West Champaran, Bihar. He then provided the details to the Indian High Commission so the formal verification process could begin.
An emotional handover
Family reunion witnessed by officials from Bangladesh and India
Home after years of uncertainty
At the Sonamasjid land port, Mahato was formally handed over to his son, Sunil Mahato, and village head Lal Bachcha Yadav. The moment was deeply emotional for the family and those who had worked to complete the repatriation.
Chapainawabganj District Jail Superintendent Zakir Hossain confirmed the handover and noted that other Indian nationals remain in custody because similar address problems have prevented their families from being traced.
- Bangladesh prison authorities
- Police representatives
- Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB)
- India’s Border Security Force (BSF)
- Family and village representatives
The work continues
More families still need to be found and more cases remain unresolved
Repatriation cases successfully resolved by Shamsul Huda.
Indian nationals repatriated through Bangladeshi land ports since 2023.
Indian nationals on a newer prison-department list, many with unresolved address information.
Huda has already identified some families from the newer list and continues working on the remaining cases. Efforts are also underway to repatriate several Bangladeshi women held in Indian prisons.
Photo gallery
Select any photograph to open the full-size image
Ramdev Mahato, a 60-year-old Indian citizen, was sentenced to six months in prison for illegal entry into Bangladesh. However, due to an error in his recorded address, he ended up spending six and a half years behind bars. On Monday, September 15, at 11:30 AM, he was finally handed over to his family at the Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj, Bangladesh, confirmed by Zakir Hossain, the jail superintendent of Chapainawabganj District Jail.
Mahato was arrested on November 29, 2018, for illegally crossing the border into Chapainawabganj. He was charged under four sections of the Control of Entry Act of 1952 and sentenced to six months in jail. Although his sentence ended on May 29, 2019, he could not be repatriated due to incorrect address information.
Zakir Hossain mentioned that several other Indian nationals are also stuck in jail due to similar address-related complications. Their repatriation has been delayed because their families could not be traced. Journalist and social activist Shamsul Huda (S21HD), a member of Amateur Radio Society Bangladesh (ARSB), took the initiative to resolve this issue. He has been working independently to locate families of both Bangladeshi and Indian prisoners held in each other’s countries.
Using digital tools and a list provided by the Chapainawabganj jail, Shamsul Huda traced Mahato’s family to Gudra village, Majuria police station, West Champaran district, Bihar, India. After locating the family on November 20, 2024, he sent the information to the Indian High Commission. Following a lengthy administrative process, the High Commission verified Mahato’s identity and issued clearance to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in March 2025. After nearly 11 months of paperwork and coordination, Mahato was finally repatriated.
On Monday, Mahato was formally handed over to his son Sunil Mahato and village head Lal Bachcha Yadav at the Sonamasjid land port. The handover was attended by officials from both countries, including police, prison authorities, BSF, and BGB personnel. The moment was deeply emotional for everyone present.
Shamsul Huda stated that the prolonged detention was due to administrative negligence and the incorrect recording of Mahato’s address. He added, “I do this work for personal satisfaction.” So far, he has successfully resolved 52 out of 80 repatriation cases. Since 2023, around 10 Indian nationals have been repatriated through various land ports in Bangladesh. Among them were the body of Bijli Kumar Rai, returned on March 14, and a citizen named Assalan from Hyderabad, returned on May 11.
Huda also mentioned that he recently received a list of 140 Indian nationals from the prison department, many of whom still have unresolved address issues. He has already located some families and continues working on the rest. Additionally, efforts are underway to repatriate several Bangladeshi women prisoners held in Indian jails.
Shamsul Huda (S21HD), a member of Amateur Radio Society Bangladesh (ARSB)
