SM Sahidul Islam, Satkhira

Out of the 78 Bengali-speaking citizens who were abandoned in the Mandarbaria forest on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, 74 have been identified as Bangladeshi citizens. 

The other four are Indians. After two days of work to identify them, the Coast Guard has confirmed the matter.

These Bengali-speaking citizens were abandoned in a char in the Bay of Bengal on May 9 by an Indian ship and speedboard. Later, they took shelter on foot at the nearby Mandarbaria patrol post.

Satkhira's Shyamnagar UNO  Mst. Roni Khatun said,  the incident of suddenly abandoning 78 people in a deserted area on the shores of the Bay of Bengal surprised everyone.

Later, with the help of the Forest Department and Bangladesh Coast Guard, these people were given shelter at the Mandarbaria patrol post. During this time, in addition to identifying their names and addresses, necessary food items including dry food, rice, pulses and water were sent to keep them healthy.

Meanwhile, the Coast Guard authorities confirmed that 74 of the push-ins were Bangladeshis, while four were Indian citizens. The organization further informed that after providing primary treatment, they were taken to Mongla by sea at around 2:30 pm on May 11.

Later, the ship carrying these people left for Shyamnagar in Satkhira on the same ship. They will be handed over there.

Forest Department Conservator Mashiur Rahman said,  initial information revealed that 78 Bengali speakers were detained from different areas of India. Later, they were taken down to the Bay of Bengal by speedboat and vessel. However, it is not yet known whether they were subjected to any kind of inhumane treatment, including physical torture.