Murarai, Birbhum District: The recent repatriation of Sunali Khatun from Bangladesh has reignited hopes for her neighbour Sweety Bibi and her two young sons, yet anxiety continues to loom over their family. Amir Khan, Sweety’s brother, a resident of Faikirpara in Paikar village, said that while Sunali’s return offers a glimmer of optimism, the uncertainty surrounding Sweety and her children remains deeply troubling.

“I am now filled with expectations that my sister and her children, who remain stuck in Bangladesh, will soon come back. Their circumstances were very similar to Sunali’s detention and deportation,” Amir told PTI on Sunday. He explained that the family had repeatedly informed the authorities over the past seven months that Sweety is an Indian citizen, but their appeals have largely gone unheard.

Amir’s anxieties are heightened by the upcoming Supreme Court hearing scheduled for December 12, which will examine the legal pleas for Sweety’s repatriation. “I have been told by those fighting for our cause that following that hearing, there is a strong chance my sister will return,” he said, expressing cautious hope.

Sweety Bibi, along with her sons Qurban Sheikh and Imam Dewan, had been detained by the Katju Nagar police in Delhi on June 27, from the same neighbourhood as Sunali, under the suspicion that they were Bangladeshi nationals. They were subsequently deported to Bangladesh. Sweety had been working as a domestic help in Delhi and had lived in the city since the age of twelve. Her third son, Imran, managed to escape deportation and is currently living with their grandmother in Birbhum.

Sweety and her children, alongside Sunali’s family, spent over a hundred days in Chapai Nawabgunj correctional facility in Bangladesh, classified as alleged “infiltrators,” until a judicial magistrate granted them bail on December 1. Following that, the Indian government repatriated Sunali, who is in an advanced stage of pregnancy, along with her eight-year-old son Sabir, on December 5, citing humanitarian grounds and acting upon a Supreme Court directive.

However, Sweety’s family remains in Bangladesh. Her husband, Danesh Sheikh, and their children continue to live in temporary accommodation provided by a Samaritan resident of Chapai Nawabgunj. Local support has been essential, as the family depends entirely on neighbours for food and basic necessities. Mofizul Sheikh, a Paikar resident who spent 44 days in two phases in Bangladesh to oversee the legal fight for the detainees, described Sweety’s condition as distraught and physically weakened. She suffered from a cold and body aches after sleeping on the floor in the correctional facility, and her mental state has been fragile following prolonged separation from her family.

Amir Khan explained the emotional toll on their family, particularly on their mother, Lajina Bibi, who is in her sixties and battling a fever. “This separation from my daughter is becoming unbearable. I spoke to her last on December 2 over a video call, using someone else’s phone, a day after her release. I can’t speak to her regularly because she doesn’t have a phone of her own,” she said. “What choice do I have but to shed tears for Sweety and my grandchildren?”

The legal battle for repatriation has been ongoing. On September 26, a Calcutta High Court division bench directed the Centre to bring back all six deportees, including Sweety and her family, within four weeks. However, the order was subsequently challenged before the Supreme Court, which continues to hear the case. Following Sunali’s repatriation, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, issued a directive for her immediate return after the Union government submitted on December 3 that it would repatriate two of the six deportees.

Although Sunali’s return has provided a ray of hope, uncertainty still dominates the lives of Sweety and her children. TMC MP Samirul Islam, who is overseeing the legal battle for both families at the Supreme Court, highlighted the continued struggle. “If the return of Sunali Khatun marked the first phase of our legal battle against the Bangla-birodhi zamindars, the second phase awaits Sweety Bibi and her two minor sons who are still in Bangladesh,” he posted on X.

Local residents and advocates have also voiced their concern. Mofizul Sheikh emphasized that although Bangladeshi police did not mistreat the deportees, the living conditions and prolonged uncertainty have taken a severe toll. “They have to depend entirely on the charity of neighbours. This is not sustainable. Sweety, her children, and Danesh must be brought back without further delay,” he said.

Amir Khan, while holding onto hope, also acknowledged the possibility of further delays or complications. “I really don’t know what will happen if her family fails to earn reprieve in court. Perhaps that will be the end of the road for us,” he said, reflecting the anxiety and helplessness that pervade the family’s daily life.

The situation underscores the broader humanitarian concerns surrounding cross-border detentions and deportations, where families remain separated, often in precarious conditions, while legal processes unfold over months. For Sweety and her family, the return of Sunali is a symbol of hope, but until the legal mechanisms ensure their safe repatriation, the uncertainty and emotional strain persist.

As the Supreme Court hearing approaches, the community continues to monitor developments closely, hoping that Sweety and her children will soon be reunited with their loved ones in India, ending months of suffering and separation.