TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee names Sunali’s newborn son Apon

TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has named Sunali Khatun’s newborn boy “Apon” (our own). (Photo: Facebook/All India Trinamool Congress)

Sunali’s family said that she had expressed her desire that Abhishek Banerjee name the baby since he had helped them in getting back to India after they were pushed into Bangladesh six months ago by Delhi Police on suspicion of being Bangladeshis.

While Sunali and her eight-year-old son have returned on the direction of the Supreme Court, her husband, Danish Sheikh, is still in Bangladesh.

“We all know what she and her family had to go through. Since she was not physically well, I came here to meet her… She and her mother requested me to name the baby. I have named him ‘Apon’, our own. This is because the BJP government at the Centre made them distant. We have made them our own,” said Abhishek after coming out of the hospital.

“She (Sunali) narrated to me how they were pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF. Being pregnant, she had to go through all the physical and mental pain. The family spent months in jail. The BJP has to pay the price of their tears,” said Abhishek, who was in Birbhum as part of his Abar Jitbe Bangla rally.

“We will continue to help the family. Her husband, Danish, is still in Bangladesh. The matter is being heard in the Supreme Court, and the Centre has sought time. We will bring Danish back by appealing to the court,” Abhishek added.

In June, Sunali Khatun was pushed into Bangladesh along with her husband, Danish, and their eight-year-old son after they were detained by Delhi Police on suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi migrants. Another family of Sweety Bibi (32) and her two sons, aged six and sixteen (hailing from Dhitora village in Birbhum) were also pushed into Bangladesh. Their families moved Calcutta High Court demanding their return to India. In the meantime, they were detained in Bangladesh for illegally entering India. Later, the Supreme Court of India ordered Sunali’s return along with her eight-year-old son, saying she was pregnant.