Court grants bail to Indian citizen Sakhina Begum accused of ‘illegal entry’

A Dhaka court has granted bail to Indian national Sakhina Begum in a case filed over alleged illegal entry.

The order came on Sunday from Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Zakir Hossain.

Defence lawyer Rahmatullah Siddique sought bail, arguing that the charges are bailable and that Sakhina did not enter Bangladesh voluntarily.

“She was forced across the border. We request her release on bail,” he said.

After the hearing, the court granted bail, placing her in the custody of her host, Klanti Akter, along with Klanti’s mother, Jakia, and aunt Moyna Akter.

Rahmatullah said he expects Sakhina to be freed from prison on Monday.

Sakhina was produced before the court from Kashimpur prison during the hearing.

Klanti, who had been providing shelter to Sakhina, said: “We came for four bail hearings earlier, but bail was not granted. Today [Sunday] it has finally happened. We are very happy.”

“She will stay with us until she can return home. She also wants to go back. We will request the government to help arrange her return home,” she adds.

Sakhina was allegedly pushed into Bangladesh by India’s Border Security Force from Assam several months ago.

The incident drew attention after a BBC Bangla report, though police in Dhaka’s Bhashantek had taken her into custody by then.

According to the case details, Sakhina was found in Bhashantek around 4:30pm on Sept 25. During police questioning, she claimed to be an Indian citizen.

Her family in Nalbari, Assam, alleged that the BSF forced her across the border.

She was charged under the Control of Entry Act, 1952, for entering Bangladesh without a passport or visa.