In a moment of immense relief and triumph, farmer Chandrakant Barman, popularly known as Ukil Barman in his locality, has finally returned home after being held in Bangladesh for over a month. He arrived at the Sitalkuchi police station in Cooch Behar district on Wednesday night, marking the end of an emotionally harrowing chapter for his family and the entire region.
The news of his return was first announced on social media by Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, who expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their intervention and support in securing Barman’s release.
The incident dates back to April, when Barman, a resident of a border village in Cooch Behar, had been cultivating land located just beyond the barbed wire fence along the Indo-Bangladesh border — an area where Indian farmers are often granted conditional access under bilateral agreements. During this time, he was allegedly detained by Bangladeshi security forces.
Despite repeated ‘flag meetings’ between India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Bangladesh’s Border Guard (BGB), the farmer remained in Bangladeshi custody, sparking outrage and concern across North Bengal.
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The arrest sent shockwaves through Barman’s family. His wife, Shobha, and other relatives were left devastated. As the sole breadwinner of the family, Ukil’s absence had pushed them to the brink, both financially and emotionally.
As days turned into weeks, pressure mounted on authorities. North Bengal Inspector General (IG) of Police Rajesh Kumar Yadav consistently assured the family and local people that the BSF and police were working tirelessly to secure Barman’s release, expressing full confidence in a positive outcome.
Meanwhile, tensions flared on the political front. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), particularly its local leadership in Cooch Behar, sharply criticised the Opposition.
Dinhata MLA and north Bengal development Minister Udayan Guha questioned Adhikari’s silence earlier in the crisis, saying, “They talk about Hinduism being in danger. Now that a Hindu farmer has been taken away by Bangladeshis, where is Shuvendu Adhikari?”
Interestingly, Barman’s homecoming coincided with another heartwarming development — the return of BSF jawan Purnam Shaw from Pakistan, adding a layer of patriotic fervour to the day’s events. The dual returns from two neighbouring countries have turned the day into a symbol of hope, resilience and diplomatic success for Bengal and the nation at large.
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