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Letter to the editor

U.S. deports Bangladeshi man

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE, Times Staff Writer
Published September 3, 2007

ADVERTISEMENT [Handout] Mohhamed Golam Sarowar Khan, 38, and his wife moved to St. Petersburg in 2004, where he drove a taxi and worked in convenience stores. His wife, Israt Jahan Rikta, 36, who remains in St. Petersburg with their 3-year-old American daughter, said she didn't realize her husband, who had been in a detention center, had been deported until he called her from an airport in Malaysia on Aug. 10.

ST. PETERSBURG - The Bangladeshi man who was picked up by immigration at his St. Petersburg home on Mother's Day has lost his bid to remain in the United States.

Mohhamed Golam Sarowar Khan, 38, had lived illegally in the United States since 1999.

His wife, Israt Jahan Rikta, 36, who remains in St. Petersburg with their 3-year-old American daughter, said she didn't realize her husband, who had been in a detention center, had been deported until he called her from an airport in Malaysia on Aug. 10.

St. Petersburg's Bangladeshi community had tried to save Khan from being sent back to his homeland, where they said he was in danger of being jailed or killed for his political affiliation. He was a candidate for political asylum, they said.

With the help of other Bangladeshis around the state, they had raised thousands of dollars to hire first a South Florida lawyer and then a New York Bangladeshi lawyer to fight his case.

Khan came to the United States on a visitor's visa. While living in Texas, he applied for political asylum, but the petition was denied. His appeal was denied in 2004. That year, he and his wife moved to St. Petersburg, where he drove a taxi and worked in convenience stores.

The Bangladeshi community now is raising money to help Khan's wife and daughter return to Bangladesh to be with him in October.

Shakawat Hossain, who had hosted a fundraiser at his St. Petersburg home in May, said there will be a strong push for donations during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins next week. Besides fasting, he said, Muslims are obligated to give to charity.

Hossain said he and others hope to raise enough money to enable Khan and his family to start their lives over in Europe.

Waveney Ann Moore can be reached at 727 892-2283 or moore@sptimes.com

[Last modified September 2, 2007, 21:57:57]