Kolkata, June 14 (IANS) A Bangladeshi national was apprehended by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) near the Indo-Nepal border in the northern zone of West Bengal on Sunday.

The man, identified as Nondon Dash, was caught during routine checking at BIT Old Bridge in Panitanki. He did not possess the necessary documents to enter India.

“The man was caught near border pillar No. 90, about 350 metres from the international boundary. He was apprehended during routine checking and frisking. A Bangladeshi passport, an airline boarding pass from Bangladesh to Nepal, a mobile phone, two Bangladeshi SIM cards, one Nepalese SIM card and Rs 2,580 in Indian currency were seized from his possession,” an SSB official said.

Dash is a resident of Umedpur village in Shibchar, in Bangladesh’s Madaripur district.

“During interrogation, Dash claimed that he is a Bangladeshi national who travelled to Kathmandu, Nepal, on February 1, 2026, with the help of an agent who promised him employment in Serbia. He said that he paid Rs 3-5 lakh to the agent, after which the latter absconded,” the official said.

Once his visa expired, Dash took up employment in Pokhara, Nepal.

After working in Pokhara for two months, he decided to return to Bangladesh via India.

Some officials suspect that Dash intentionally crossed into India and willingly surrendered before SSB personnel as he was aware that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are being sent back to their country.

He, however, faces the possibility of a jail term for illegal entry into India.

He has been handed over to the police for further legal action under the Foreigners Act.

Another Bangladeshi national was apprehended by the SSB near the same location a few days ago.

He had travelled to Nepal via India with an agent who had promised him a job in Europe. Once in Nepal, the agent allegedly duped him after taking money.

He then worked as a welder in that country before crossing back into India in the hope of being repatriated to Bangladesh.

–IANS

jayanta/pgh