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Indian Express
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Scared to leave Bengal… but no jobs here': Workers plan to return to Mumbai despite deportation ordeal
They were picked up in Mumbai last month on suspicion of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and pushed into the neighbouring country. They were later brought to their native West Bengal following intervention from the state government, but they plan to return to Mumbai despite the ordeal. The reason is simple — they see a much better chance of making ends meet and providing for their families while working in the city. 'There is nothing for us here (in Bengal), no job. For years, we have worked outside, where the pay is almost double. Yes, I am scared to leave Bengal — I still remember the time when we had to sleep under the open sky in Bangladesh after we were pushed out of the country — but when I look at my children, I am more scared. How will I provide for them? I am planning to return (to Mumbai), come what may,' said Mehbub Sheikh (36) from Bhagabangola in Bengal's Murshidabad district, who worked as a construction worker in Mumbai. Apart from Mehbub, Nazimuddin Mondol, Minarul Sheikh, Shamim Khan, Mostafa Kamal Sheikh, Fazar Mondol and his wife Taslima, were detained in Mumbai in June on suspicion of being Bangladeshis who illegally moved to India. On June 14, at around 3 am, they were pushed into Bangladesh, where they spent two nights, before they were brought back to India to their home state of West Bengal. The ordeal has upended the lives of these seven individuals, some of whom still have small businesses to run or contracts to fulfil back in Mumbai. One of them, Minarul Sheikh, has already returned to the city. The others are busy trying to get their documents, such as Aadhaar cards and PAN cards, issued before going back. Their existing documents, they claimed, had been seized by authorities (including their cellphones) . TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam, chairman of the West Bengal government's Migrant Labour Welfare Board, said: 'I had spoken to them and told them that we will arrange for a job for them in Bengal. But they are free citizens who have the right to work anywhere in India.' Mehbub Sheikh explained the simple economics that draw them back to Mumbai despite the experience of having been branded illegal immigrants by authorities there. 'It is not hard to get Rs 1,200-1,400 per day in Mumbai with a little bit of extra work. There, you also get months of work continuously. Here, it is just Rs 500 (a day) in my village and Rs 700 in Kolkata. That, too, you don't get work consistently. I have a setup in Mumbai. I owe people about Rs 1 lakh, which I had taken to pay advances to other labourers who work with me,' said Mehbub. 'I have two children who take private tuition. How will I pay for it?' he asked. Minarul Sheikh (30) from Beldanga in Murshidabad, who is already back in Mumbai, has debts to pay and a business to run, his family said. 'A week after he was brought back from Bangladesh, he left for Delhi. Now, he is in Mumbai. He told us that he owes money to a lot of people. He has been in the business of hair cutting, and for years, worked in Mumbai and Delhi. His business cannot be done sitting at home,' said Monijul Sheikh, Minarul's elder brother, who works as a mason in Assam. Mostafa Kamal Sheikh (53), who ran a jhalmuri stand in Mumbai, has a similar story. He says he has been working in the city since 1999 and lived in a rented room at Nalasopara before he was detained and pushed into Bangladesh. 'I have a regular business of selling jhalmuri there, and regular clients. I have given a Rs 16,000 deposit for the room that I rent (for Rs 4,000 a month). Everything is there, and only for festivals do I return home,' Mostafa Kamal said. 'After they took my cell phone and documents, I got a new SIM card from here and also renewed my Aadhaar card. I will apply for a police clearance certificate and when I get it, I will leave the next day,' he said. Another one of the seven, 29-year-old Shamim Khan, said he would also go back to Mumbai as soon as he gets his documents renewed. 'I have a wife and a child to take care of. I have an aged mother to take care of. On July 25, my mother will undergo gallbladder stone surgery. There is a cost involved. There isn't much work here, and the pay is low. In Mumbai, I made Rs 30,000 monthly,' he explained. 'The local MLA and panchayat members came to meet me after I was brought back from Bangladesh. But they will not give me a job, will they? So, I will go back after I get my documents renewed,' Shamim, from Hariharpara in Murshidabad, said. Tahajul Mondol's son Fazar (21) and daughter-in-law Taslima (19) had also been pushed into Bangladesh. He said he would also go to Mumbai now, along with the younger couple. 'They are construction workers and I am a plumber. To bring my son and his wife back home (after they were pushed into Bangladesh), I had to go to Mekhliganj (from where police handed the couple over to their family). The trip cost Rs 24,000, and I had to take out a loan. They had gone to Mumbai to work just five months ago. I have been working in Karnataka for the last three years,' said Tahajul, adding, 'We cannot stay here as there is no proper job.' Nazimuddin Mondol from Hariharpara in Murshidabad said he has to collect payments from several people for work done in Mumbai. 'I worked as a mason and was a labour contractor. People in Mumbai owe me Rs 3-4 lakh in payments. I cannot afford to lose that, so I will go back,' he said. 'In accordance with their skill and the quality of life they are living, there is not sufficient scope or jobs here in Bengal. It is natural that simple monetary economics will rule over fear of persecution,' said Arnab Pal, convener of Parijayi Sramik Aikya Manch. Ravik Bhattacharya is the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. Over 20 years of experience in the media industry and covered politics, crime, major incidents and issues, apart from investigative stories in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Andaman Nicobar islands. Ravik won the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for political reporting. Ravik holds a bachelor degree with English Hons from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University and a PG diploma in mass communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik started his career with The Asian Age and then moved to The Statesman, The Telegraph and Hindustan Times. ... Read More
Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Indian Express
‘We were herded like cattle by BSF towards Bangladesh in the dark…won't go to Mumbai': Bengal residents labelled as ‘illegal immigrants'
'We were herded like cattle. Wielding batons, the BSF jawans drove us towards the border with Bangladesh and asked us not to return. We ran towards Bangladesh. It was completely dark,' said Nazimuddin Mondal, a resident of Hariharpara in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, who was picked up by Maharashtra Police on suspicion of being illegal immigrants and pushed into Bangladesh in the wee hours of June 14. Nazimuddin and six others — Mehbub Sheikh of Bhagabangola in Murshidabad, Minaraul Sheikh of Beldanga in Murshidabad, Shamim Khan of Hariharpara in Murshidabad, Mostafa Kamal Sheikh of Monteshwar in Purba Bardhaman and Fazer Sheikh and his wife Taslima of Bagda in North 24 Parganas – were brought back from Bangladesh after the TMC government in West Bengal intervened and asked the Central government to bring them back. All seven hailing from West Bengal were picked up by Maharashtra Police during an anti-immigrant crackdown in Mumbai and its adjoining areas last week. 'After being detained on June 9, we were taken from one police station to another near Mumbai for three days, and we were finally handed over to the BSF in Pune. We were not allowed to have our cellphones, keys to our rooms, or any belongings. We were flown to Agartala in a BSF aircraft. There were over 130 people in the plane. From Agartala, we were taken on buses to the border. There we were divided into small groups,' said Nazimuddin Sheikh (34) after returning home to Taratipur village in Murshidabad district. 'At around 3 am, they took us to the border and gave 300 Taka, some food in a plastic packet, and a water bottle,' he added. According to him, Bangladeshi villagers helped them to make calls to their home. 'Bangladeshi villagers informed the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) who made us sit in a field. The villagers gave us food and water. Later, they handed us over to the BSF,' added Nizamuddin, who worked as a mason in Mumbai. 'I used to make Rs 30,000 per month in Mumbai. Yet I cannot return to work. What if they hold us again and send us to Bangladesh? I have been working for the past four years in Mumbai. Before that, I worked in Kerala. But never faced such a situation,' said Nazimuddin, who lives with his father, mother, wife and a girl child, and is the only breadwinner for his family. Speaking over the phone from his home in Beldanga, Murshidabad, Minarul Sheikh said, 'It is sad how being an Indian, the Maharashtra Police branded us illegal Bangladeshi and the BSF drove us out of our own country. Some of us were beaten by batons before we were told to move towards Bangladesh.' 'I will never return to Mumbai. I worked in Delhi and Mumbai for the last 10 years, but never faced this. I earned Rs 30,000 to 40,000 per month in the wig-making business. What will I do now? I have my parents and brothers to take care of here. The state government should do something for people like us,' he said. Mehbub Sheikh, also a mason who worked in Mumbai, said returning to Mumbai for work is now out of the question. 'The experience we had there, we cannot return to work. I had to show a local doctor because I was beaten by the BSF since I refused to walk towards Bangladesh at 3 am. I am not in a physical condition to work now. I am happy to be alive and back at home,' the 36-year-old said. Meanwhile, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam, who as chairman of West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board played a crucial role in bringing the seven back in a post on X asked: 'I have some questions: 1. How did the Maharashtra Police hand over these migrant workers to the BSF without informing the West Bengal government? 2. Why didn't the BSF contact the local administration to verify their identities before forcibly deporting them to another country? 3. Is there a larger plan by these BJP-ruled states and the BSF to target and harass Bengali-speaking migrant workers?' 'We will not let this issue go. We will expose the dark forces behind this misdeed and ensure justice,' Islam added. Ravik Bhattacharya is the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. Over 20 years of experience in the media industry and covered politics, crime, major incidents and issues, apart from investigative stories in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Andaman Nicobar islands. Ravik won the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for political reporting. Ravik holds a bachelor degree with English Hons from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University and a PG diploma in mass communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik started his career with The Asian Age and then moved to The Statesman, The Telegraph and Hindustan Times. ... Read More
Indian Express
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bengal resident pushed into Bangladesh brought back with four others
Following the intervention by the TMC government in West Bengal, 36-year-old Mehbub Sheikh, a resident of Murshidabad who was picked up by Maharashtra Police and pushed into Bangladesh on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant, was brought back to the country on Monday. Another youth from Murshidabad, Shamim Khan, who too was detained in Maharashtra and pushed into Bangladesh, was also brought back along with Mehbub, officials here in Kolkata said. West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board chief Samirul Islam told The Indian Express that the intervention was made at the top-level of the state government. 'Under instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal government and police communicated to the Central government and the BSF. Mehbub Sheikh and Shamim Khan were brought back today (Monday). Three others were brought back on Sunday. We are verifying whether there are other residents of West Bengal who have been similarly pushed into Bangladesh,' Islam said. Sheikh, who worked as a mason in Thane area near Mumbai, was picked by Maharashtra Police on June 11 on suspicion of being an illegal Bangladesh migrant, and by June 14 (Saturday, 3.30 am) he was sent to a BSF camp in Siliguri and pushed into the neighbouring country despite his family and local police sending necessary documents to prove that he was an Indian citizenship. 'We coordinated with BSF and now the youths are returning home,' said Superintendent of Police (Murshidabad) Kumar Sunny Raj. In a statement, Murshidabad Police said: 'Upon receiving information, Murshidabad police immediately conducted local enquiries to establish the Indian citizenship of the individuals. After verifying relevant documents, they were submitted to the Border Security Force. Murshidabad police conducted prolonged coordination with the BSF. Later, the BSF conducted an urgent flag meeting with the Bangladesh Border Guard and brought back the youths.' 'Mehbub and Shamim have been handed over to Raiganj police station b y the BSF. We are now handing them over to Murshidabad police,' said Md Sana Akhtar, SP (Uttar Dinajpur). Of the five men brought back since Sunday, four are from Murshidabad and one from Purba Bardhaman, police said. They have been identified as Mehbub Sheikh of Bhagwangola; Nazimuddin Mondal and Shamim Khan of Hariharpara; Minarul Sheikh of Beldanga – all Murshidabad; and Mostafa Kamal Sheikh of Monteswar in Purba Bardhaman district. Mehbub Sheikh's brother, Mujibur, said: 'We are happy that he (Mehbub) is coming home. Today, a group of policemen came and took all the documents, including land records, voter card, ration card, Aadhaar card and others.' Meanwhile, the three others — Nazimuddin Mondal, Minarul Sheikh and Mostafa Kamal Sheikh — were also picked up by the police in Maharashtra and later pushed into Bangladesh. They were handed over to Mekhliganj police station in Cooch Behar and are expected to reach their homes on Monday night. 'My brother worked in the wig-making business. He worked in Delhi and moved to Mumbai a month ago. He was staying in the Nalasopara area. He was picked up on June 9 along with two other men, who worked as masons. The next day we sent all the documents to the police. We also submitted documents to the local Beldanga police station, who contacted Mumbai police but were not entertained. We got to know that the three were pushed into Bangladesh when my brother called us from Bangladesh,' said Musarraf, brother of Minarul. 'My brother is on his way home. My thanks to our state government for their effort,' added Musarraf. Ravik Bhattacharya is the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. Over 20 years of experience in the media industry and covered politics, crime, major incidents and issues, apart from investigative stories in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Andaman Nicobar islands. Ravik won the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for political reporting. Ravik holds a bachelor degree with English Hons from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University and a PG diploma in mass communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik started his career with The Asian Age and then moved to The Statesman, The Telegraph and Hindustan Times. ... Read More
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Bengal man in Thane pushed into Bangladesh even as family, govt submit proof of his citizenship
A 36-year-old man from West Bengal, who had gone to Maharashtra for work, was picked up by Maharashtra Police, suspecting him to be an illegal Bangladesh migrant, and was pushed across the border into the neighbouring country by the Border Security Force (BSF) in the wee hours of Saturday. The Maharashtra Police and the BSF, according to the West Bengal government, pushed Mehbub Sheikh into Bangladesh despite intervention from the West Bengal Police, state Migrant Welfare Board and submission of necessary documents to prove his Indian citizenship. 'After Sheikh's family approached us, we contacted the Maharashtra Police. All the (required) documents were sent to them. They didn't even bother to inform the West Bengal government, and Sheikh was pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF,' Samirul Islam, chairman of West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board, told The Indian Express. Sheikh's family said they are residents of Hossainnagar village in Mahisasthali gram panchayat area of Bhagabangola in Murshidabad district of West Bengal. The 36-year-old worked as a mason in Maharashtra. 'For the past two years, he has been working in Maharashtra. He used to stay in the Mira Road area of Thane near Mumbai. Five days ago (Wednesday, June 11), while he was having tea, police picked him up, suspecting him to be a Bangladeshi, and took him to Kanakia police station,' Sheikh's younger brother Mujibur told The Indian Express over the phone from Murshidabad. 'He called us from Kanakia police station. We immediately informed the local police and administration, as well as our panchayat pradhan and the migrant welfare board. They said they were in touch with the Maharashtra Police. By Friday, we sent all documents to Maharashtra Police, including Mehbub Sheikh's voter card, Aadhaar Card, ration card, and even our family tree, running generations certified by the panchayat,' said Mujibur. Shabbir Ahmed, pradhan of Mahisasthali gram panchayat, said that they rushed to Siliguri after coming to know that Mehbub Sheikh had been sent to a BSF camp there. 'On Friday (June 13), we were informed by the local police station that Maharashtra Police alerted them that Mehbub has been sent to a BSF camp in Siliguri. My brother Mujibur rushed to the camp. But we were not entertained there. They did not even listen to us,' the pradhan said. According to the family, Mehbub Sheikh called them on Saturday (June 14), informing them that BSF pushed him into Bangladesh at 3.30 am. 'He said that he was pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF around 3.30 am on Saturday. He took shelter in a village from where he made the call. He was crying. He has a wife and three children. We just want him back. We don't know how long he can survive in Bangladesh,' said Mujibur. The Maharashtra Police defended their action, saying Mehbub 'failed' to give documents to prove his nationality, adding that they don't consider Aadhaar and PAN cards for proving citizenship. 'We are not at fault… On the police commissioner's order to take action against illegal Bangladeshi migrants, we detained many suspects, including Mehbub Sheikh, on June 11. We demanded documents from them that could prove their nationality. Generally, we don't consider Aadhaar and PAN cards for this purpose, as they can be fraudulently obtained. Hence, we asked him to produce his birth certificate or any strong proof. But he failed to produce the same and also did not provide any other document or his family's documents to support his claim that he is Indian,' Meghna Burade, Senior Inspector at Mira Road police station in Thane, said. June 11: Mehbub Sheikh picked up from Thane June 12: Sheikh's family sends some documents June 13: Maharashtra Police sends Mehbub to BSF, Siliguri, says they got documents after he was sent to West Bengal June 14: Pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF around 3.30 am Ravik Bhattacharya is the Chief of Bureau of The Indian Express, Kolkata. Over 20 years of experience in the media industry and covered politics, crime, major incidents and issues, apart from investigative stories in West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Andaman Nicobar islands. Ravik won the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award in 2007 for political reporting. Ravik holds a bachelor degree with English Hons from Scottish Church College under Calcutta University and a PG diploma in mass communication from Jadavpur University. Ravik started his career with The Asian Age and then moved to The Statesman, The Telegraph and Hindustan Times. ... Read More
