39 Bangladeshis deported from US arrive in Dhaka
The United States has sent back 39 Bangladeshis, who arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka early today via a special US military flight.
After landing at 5:30am, airport authorities and BRAC provided transport support and emergency assistance.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Among the returnees, 26 are from Noakhali, while others are from Cumilla, Sylhet, Feni, Lakshmipur, Chattogram, Gazipur, Dhaka, Munshiganj, and Narayanganj.
According to BRAC's Migration Programme, at least 34 of the 39 migrants had travelled to Brazil with clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
From Brazil, they made it to Mexico, and then entered US without documents. Of the remaining five, two travelled directly to the US and three entered from South Africa. After applying to stay, US authorities completed legal procedures before ordering their return.
Shariful Hasan, associate director of BRAC Migration and Youth Platform, criticised the lack of monitoring behind these journeys. He said the government allowed workers to travel legally to Brazil, but did not ensure whether they were genuinely going there for work or using Brazil as a route to US.
He urged that agencies must be held accountable before new approvals for Brazil are issued, as thousands are taking this route.
Returnees said that in previous months, many Bangladeshis were sent back from the US in handcuffs and leg chains, but this time, the 39 were not restrained.
Since Donald Trump's second presidency, the US government has intensified efforts to remove undocumented migrants. As part of this policy, several groups of Bangladeshis and other nationalities have already been deported.
On June 8 this year, a chartered flight brought back 42 Bangladeshis. Between March 6 and April 21, at least 34 more were deported on multiple flights. From the beginning of 2024 to August 2025, more than 220 Bangladeshis returned from the US.
Under US law, undocumented migrants can be deported through court orders or administrative decisions. When asylum claims are rejected, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arranges their removal.
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