In the quaint village of Bangladesh, Ruhul Amin Fakir could never have imagined his son would be linked to an attack on Saif Ali Khan, a renowned Indian film star.
, the Mumbai Police arrested his son, Mohammad Shariful Islam Shehzad, leaving the family in shock.
Ruhul, a worker in a jute mill, told Aaj Tak that his 30-year-old son left for India in April 2024 in search of work. As the family’s primary breadwinner, Shariful sent money home every month. Before India, he worked as a rickshaw driver in Bangladesh, evident from a photo where he stands before their humble home.
Source: aajtak
Their home is in Jhalakoti District of Bangladesh. The village, Rajbaria, is in Nalchiti sub-district and about 500 kilometers from the Dawki River, which he allegedly crossed illegally to enter India.
Source: aajtak
It Began at the Dawki River
You might have seen images of the Dawki River, also known as Umngot, on social media. Renowned as one of the clearest rivers, where boats seemingly float on glass, it draws visitors from far and wide. On one side lies India, and on the other, Bangladesh.
Shariful crossed into India via Dawki River. He stayed in West Bengal for a few weeks before moving to Mumbai for work, later employed at a restaurant called 'Slink and Bardot'.
See How Easily Dawki River Can Be Crossed
border area between the two nations is such that despite BSF deployment, infiltration into India isn't a daunting task. Watch the YouTube video at 6:18 to see the Indo-Bangladesh boundary at Dawki.
Border crossings via Dawki remain a concern. In July 2024, during sweeping protests in Bangladesh, the Border Security Force launched
'Operation Alert'
to curb illegal entry into Meghalaya. Amid ongoing discourse regarding this route, in August 2024,
that the Indo-Bangladesh border in Meghalaya is entirely secure, with no breaches occurring.
Shariful's Legal Troubles in Bangladesh
Ruhul admitted his son faces multiple legal battles in Bangladesh. However, he asserted, "Our family supports Begum Khaleda Zia, which is why the Sheikh Hasina administration unjustly embroiled my son in these cases."
Ruhul refuses to believe Shariful could have attacked Saif Ali Khan, convinced instead that he is a victim of entrapment.
