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)
