By Zaidul Haque, Twocircles.net
Kolkata: Five-year-old Indian kid Ariful Sheikh who has been in Bangladesh prison for one year was released on 29th April, 2012. Ariful and his grandparents of Murshidabad district in West Bengal were held by Bangladesh border Force on 15th April 2011 when they crossed the border to meet their ailing relative on the other side of the border. But there were no Political personalities, Panchayet Pradhan or MLA to come forward to support them.
Ariful in his mother’s lap
From his residence at Village Chaltia (Bhakuri ) beside the district headquarter Baharampur of Murshidabad Ariful’s Father Shafiqul Sheikh told TwoCircles.net over telephone that, at the early morning around 10.30 Border Guards of Bangladesh handed Ariful ,along with his grandparents Hachimuddin Sheikh and Mafroza Khatun to the BSF at the the Gede checkpost on the Indo-Bangladesh border. The Parents of Ariful, Shafiqul Sheikh & Kajalrejha Bibi reached the post before the release. Within a short time BSF official handed over to him via Murshidabad police.
After getting his child back Shafiqul expressed his feeling to TCN that, When Police official released Ariful, he ran fast towards his mother. All the family is very happy to have Ariful back. They now wants to live away from the crowd. Lots of people are coming to see the kid after the news flashed on the print media and electronic media. Whole day Ariful has taken rest and on the evening he is palying with his sister 3 years old Arifa Khatun and enjoying his childhood again.
Shafiqul expressed thanks over to Human Rights Organization Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) and Manabadhikar Surakhsha Mancha (MASUM) that took special initiative to get Ariful released. He said he didn’t have enough money for legal fight in Bangladesh. But, Human rights Organization have done everything on their behalf without any cost.
No political leader came forward to help him in this cause or come see the child after the release.
Reunited after a year
Shafiqul is happy with the Bangladesh Jail official. The jail official of Bangladesh always served necessary food to his kid very carefully he said. He expressed his thanks to Jail Authority of Kushtia, Bangladesh for co-operation with his kid and relatives. He also praised to Allah to able to reunite with his child.
Shafiqul now wants to intend to send his kid Ariful to nearest Primary school to start his education within few days.
Maja Daruwala, Director of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative expressed relief that the old grandparents and 5 year old were now reunited with their family said: “We are very happy for the family. We would not have been able to get this far without the help of Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust in Bangladesh, Masum in West Bengal and the media that drew attention to the dreadful facts of Ariful’s case.
“ But this is not the end. There are many more families in jail on both sides of the border that need immediate and efficient consular services. The ministries and governments on both sides must immediately come to an understanding and put in place suitable procedures that make sure that this kind of neglect and delay never take place in the future. No child of 5 should be in jail for even an hour let alone for nearly 11 months. The family should have been released after two months but lack of consular services and coordination forced them to remain in prison for nearly 11 months. How can this be acceptable to either government?”
“Even the final lap of the journey home has not been without unnecessary complication. Instead of being allowed to go home after verification the police insisted that the family stay with them until accompanied by police to a press conference organised by them later in the day at Murshidabad. It was only after a long argument that the family was allowed to go on their way. The boy was ill and vomiting, the grandparents frightened and the parents sick with tension. They had not consented to be at any special press conference and the actions of the police require an explanation.”
“CHRI hopes that the boy and his family will now be left alone to pick up their lives undisturbed.”
Shafiqul Shaikh holds Below Poverty Line Card (BPL). He earns his living by driving small truck of a business in Baharampur Town.
Related Story:
5 yr Ariful of Murshidabad languishing in Bangladesh jail for 1 yr
Ariful Sheikh of Murshidabad will walk free from Bangladesh jail
http://twocircles.net/2012apr27/ariful_sheikh_murshidabad_will_walk_free_bangladesh_jail.html
For more information contact:
Sana Das, Coordinator, Prison Reforms Programme, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative at [email protected] (09535105575)
Mrs Maja Daruwala, Director, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, [email protected], +91 9810199745
Ariful’ Father Mr Shafiqul Sk 08768418177