An emotional reunion between a daughter and her elderly parents at the zero point of the Banglabandha border has touched the hearts of millions after a video capturing the moment went viral on social media.
In the video, the elderly father is seen walking slowly towards his daughter as border guards from both India and Bangladesh stand by, along with a few relatives who were present at the scene. The heartfelt moment has resonated deeply with viewers, highlighting the struggles faced by families separated by international borders.
It was revealed that Mahila Begum, now 57, is the daughter of Sapiz Uddin, a 107-year-old resident of Sholmari village in Rajganj thana of Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, India. Around four decades ago, Mahila Begum had traveled to Jagdal Hatpara village in Panchagarh Sadar upazila to visit a relative's house. During this visit, she met and later married Nazmul Haque, now 75, a resident of Madhoipara village in the same upazila. Their marriage was arranged through a local matchmaker, leading her to settle in Bangladesh.
Before the installation of the barbed-wire fence along the border, Mahila Begum and her family could visit their relatives on both sides once or twice a year without much difficulty. However, after the fence was set up, they had to rely on official channels to travel between the two countries. In recent years, restrictions on tourist visas for Bangladeshis imposed by Indian authorities have made it even more challenging for Mahila Begum to visit her aging parents. As a result, she had been unable to see them for the past two and a half years, making this long-awaited reunion all the more emotional and significant.
