Two Bangladeshi women were arrested by Madhupur police station Sepahijala district after allegedly crossing the barbed-wire border fence at Kaiyadepa under same police station in Tripura.
Police sources said that, the two women, identified as Shakila Khanum (31) and Sonia Sultana, allegedly entered India with the help of a human trafficking network operating from Dhaka. They reportedly intended to travel to Chennai and work in hotels to earn money and send it back to their families in Bangladesh.
Police said the women had crossed the border fence and were allegedly waiting to establish contact with an Indian agent when they were intercepted. Their suspicious behaviour reportedly drew the attention of Madhupur Police. During questioning, police found inconsistencies in their statements and subsequently brought them to the police station for further interrogation.
Shakila Khanum, wife of Arshad Sheikh, is a resident of Saruria under Mollahat police station in Bagerhat district, Bangladesh. The other woman, Sonia Sultana, wife of Aslam Molla, is a resident of Phuldhar under Kalia police station in Narail district.
Police said both women have families and children in Bangladesh. During questioning, they reportedly stated that they had crossed into India through agents in search of better employment opportunities and intended to earn money for their families.
When asked why they had left Bangladesh despite the availability of jobs there, the women allegedly said that although there is considerable demand for workers in Bangladesh, they were not receiving wages commensurate with the work.
Madhupur Police arrested the two women under relevant provisions of the passport and visa laws. They were produced before the Bishalgarh Sub-Divisional Court on Sunday after for further legal proceedings, police said.
Further investigation is underway to identify the agents involved in facilitating their alleged illegal entry into India.