Kolkata Police apprehended six Bangladeshi individuals from a central Kolkata hotel for staying in India beyond the expiration of their visas. The police, acting on a tip-off, raided a hotel on Collin Street where the Bangladeshis were hiding due to visa expiry fears. Investigations revealed that these youths, affiliated with the Awami League, sought refuge in Kolkata on medical visas following unrest in Bangladesh.
Six valid Bangladeshi passports were seized from the arrested individuals, identified as Abir Hossain, Mohammad Mamun Rashid, Mohammad Alimun Gazi, Azam Mollah, Faizal Amin, and Zaidul Islam. Among them, Azam Mollah is known as a Bangladeshi singer who continued his musical activities in Kolkata. Despite his arrest, Azam requested to sing when taken into custody but was remanded along with the others by the Bankshall Court until February 27.
Aged between 25 and 35, the detainees hail mainly from Noakhali and Tangail in Bangladesh. They left their country separately last year due to turmoil and arrived in Kolkata for medical treatment. Over time, they congregated in the city, residing in various hotels and seeking employment. The group, including singer Azam Mollah, chose to remain in India despite their visas expiring in January, citing safety concerns in returning to Bangladesh.
The arrested Bangladeshi nationals, all associated with the Awami League, expressed reluctance to go back to their homeland. However, Kolkata Police affirmed that the legal process for repatriation to Bangladesh would proceed after their judicial custody ends.
