Helped by Bangladesh authorities, Sudam finally reunites with family in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: Nearly 11 years after he went missing from his village Mayurbhanj district, Sudam Hembram was finally reunited with his family on Sunday. Even though the intervening years are like a blur for the now 41-year-old, who was found in a distressed condition at a railway station in Bangladesh by a social worker, tears rolled down Sudam’s eyes as his nephew Subash hugged him soon after he stepped into India.“I am so glad that my uncle is returning home after a decade. I thank the Odisha govt, the Centre, and the Bangladesh activist Md Abdul Goni Fitu for their help,” said Subash, who was accompanied by Sudam’s brother-in-law Sinendu Hansdah, three members of an Odisha Police team, the tehsildar of Betnoti block in Mayurbhanj district, and social activist Utpal Roy from Kolkata.According to an official statement from Odisha Police, the district police headquarters in Mayurbhanj received information from the office of the High Commission of India, Dhaka that Sudam had been traced in Bangladesh.“It was informed that Sudam, a resident of Jagannathpur village, had inadvertently crossed the border and entered Bangladesh. District police and district administration informed Sudam’s family about his whereabouts. They were requested to remain ready to receive him on Dec 7,” the official statement read.On Saturday, the team of district police, district administration and family members of Sudam left Mayurbhanj for the Haridaspur/Benapole check post. “After the completion of formalities at the border check post, Sudam was handed over by Bangladeshi authorities to the Mayurbhanj team on Sunday,” read the police statement.On Oct 20, Md Abdul Goni Fitu came across Sudam at Golabari railway station under Rajshahi division of Bangladesh. Sudam could offer very little information about himself. Goni got in touch with social activists in West Bengal through HAM radio operators and that was when Utpal picked up the thread.Utpal, a social activist, wrote letters to govt offices seeking help for Sudam’s repatriation. “Sudipta Roy of the High Commission of India, Dhaka, helped us a lot in the repatriation process,” said Utpal, who managed to track down Sudam’s family members with help from HAM operators in Odisha.