Sunali released from Rampurhat Hospital

Sunali Khatun was discharged today from Rampurhat Medical College Hospital after a six-member medical board confirmed her health condition was normal. She has since returned to her in-laws’ residence in Birbhum district.

Last Saturday, she was brought back to her ancestral home in Birbhum from Bangladesh by road in an ambulance provided by the state health department, accompanied by her son. She was immediately admitted to Rampurhat Medical College Hospital, in compliance with a Calcutta High Court directive for treatment and medical evaluation.

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The hospital authorities formed a six-member medical board which conducted all necessary tests and prescribed treatment. Following stabilisation of her condition, she was released.

Although her expected date of delivery has been delayed, she will remain under regular supervision of the medical board, sources said.

Today she reached her in-laws’ house in Paikar, under Murarai police station. Her husband remains detained in Bangladesh. Yesterday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced in Cooch Behar that the state would make efforts to secure the release of all four persons still held in Bangladesh, including Sunali’s husband.

Dr Iswar Chatterjee, Superintendent of Rampurhat Medical College Hospital, told reporters that Sunali’s delivery is due in January 2026. “At present, all her health parameters are normal, and she has been discharged with medical advice,” he said.

Sunali Khatun, her husband, son and other relatives had been living in Rohini, Delhi, as migrant labourers. On 17 June, she, her husband and their eight-year-old son were arrested by Delhi Police and deported to Bangladesh on 26 May through the BSF.

The Chapai Nawabganj Police in Bangladesh arrested them and sent them to prison as intruders. On 26 September, the Calcutta High Court directed that they be brought back to India within four weeks.

Samirul Islam, Rajya Sabha MP from Birbhum and Chairman of the West Bengal Parijayi Shramik Kalyan Parishad, has fought the legal battle from the outset. He even sent his representative to Dhaka to press for the release of the six Indians deported from New Delhi in May this year. At the time of her arrest, Khatun was pregnant, while her elder daughter remained with her grandparents in Birbhum.