Agency:agencies
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Sunali Khatun Bangladesh Deportation Case: Keeping national security in mind, agencies have started the process of identifying illegal Bangladeshis living in India and sending them back. Under this campaign, a woman named Sunali Khatun was sent back to Bangladesh in the initial months of the year. She was pregnant. A few days ago, the Bangladesh court declared Sunali an Indian citizen. Due to this his problem increased a lot. The matter reached the Supreme Court and now news that will bring relief to them has come from the Supreme Court of the country.
Sunali Khatun Bangladesh Deportation Case: Bangladeshi citizens living illegally in India were found involved in many illegal activities. After such cases continuously came to light, the process of identifying illegal Bangladeshis and sending them back was started. When a large number of people were deported, many people themselves started crossing the border to Bangladesh. Sunali Khatoon of West Bengal was also sent to Bangladesh along with her 8 year old son in the same sequence. First the Bangladesh government and now the court there refused to accept Sunali as a citizen of that country. Sunali was declared an Indian citizen. Let us tell you that Sunali is pregnant, in such a situation the biggest question arose that if Sunali gives birth to the child in Bangladesh, then which country will he be a citizen of? This matter has been resolved immediately. The Supreme Court said that the law has to bow before humanity. After this, the Central Government has agreed to bring Sunali Khatoon back to India. However, the Center clearly told the court that it still considers Sunali as an illegal migrant and is bringing her to India only on humanitarian grounds.
The case related to Sunali Khatoon was heard by the bench of Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared on behalf of the Centre. Kapil Sibal also presented his argument on behalf of West Bengal. In fact, more than 5 months after they were sent to Bangladesh, the Central Government on Wednesday told the Supreme Court that it will bring back pregnant Sunali Khatoon and her eight-year-old son on humanitarian grounds. However, the government says that Suneli is an illegal immigrant from Bangladesh. The bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, ‘Law should bow before humanity.’ The court also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to ask the government what its instructions are on bringing back the other four people who were caught from Delhi in June and later sent to Bangladesh. On October 3, 2025, a Bangladesh court had declared Sunali and her family as Indian citizens. According to the report of ‘Times of India’, Tushar Mehta said that the Central Government has taken the decision on the basis of humanity only in view of the serious pregnancy of the woman. Sunali and her son will be brought back to Delhi and given proper health care.
Sunali Khatoon has been declared an Indian citizen by the Bangladeshi court. This matter went to the Supreme Court and the way for his coming to India was cleared. (File photo/PTI)
What instructions did the Supreme Court give?
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for Sunali’s father Bhodu Sheikh, told the Supreme Court bench that Sunali would be more safe and comfortable with her father at their home in Birbhum district of West Bengal. The Mamata Banerjee government supported this petition through senior lawyer Kapil Sibal and requested the Supreme Court to seek a response from the Central Government on bringing back the remaining four people (including Sunali’s husband Danish). The bench agreed with this and said that Sunali would be better taken care of during her pregnancy if she stayed with her father. The court asked the Central Government to send Sunali and her son to West Bengal after bringing them back to India. Also, the court directed the Medical Officer of Birbhum to provide all pregnancy related health services to Sunali for free. The Supreme Court also said that since the government did not take any action against Bhodu Sheikh on the grounds that he was a Bangladeshi, it could be assumed that he was a citizen of India.
What did Sunali Khatoon say on SC’s decision?
What does Sunali Khatoon have to say after the Supreme Court’s decision? Sunali Khatun, 26, said she is very happy with the Supreme Court’s return order, but she does not know when she will be able to return to her parents in Birbhum district of Bengal. Reacting to the Supreme Court’s decision, Sunali said that she told Bangladesh that she wants to return to her home in Birbhum immediately, but does not know whether it will be possible or not. I have pain in my lower back. I don’t know whether my child will be born in India or here.
