Bhubaneswar: The authorities have confirmed the identity and nationality of a missing man from Odisha who was recently rescued in Bangladesh, and steps are being taken to facilitate his repatriation.

As per information, Sudam Hembram, a mentally unwell resident of Jagannathpur village in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, had been missing for around a decade before being found in Bangladesh on October 20.

Mayurbhanj district collector Hema Kanta Say reportedly submitted a report to the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh, confirming the identity and nationality of Sudam Hembram, who was missing for nearly ten years.

Following a report on his tracing in TOI. the government initiated steps to bring him back to Odisha. In his letter issued on Thursday to Kalyan Kumar Haldar of the High Commission of India, Dhaka, the Mayurbhanj district collector said the nationality and identity of Sudam were verified through the Mayurbhanj SP, tehsildar, and block development officer (BDO) of Badasahi.

It was further stated in the letter that Sudam is an Indian citizen and a resident of Jagannathpur under Badasahi police station in Mayurbhanj district. He was also issued an elector’s photo identity card (EPIC) earlier. “A copy of the police report received from the Mayurbhanj SP is transmitted to the High Commission office at Dhaka,” read the letter.

Social activist Utpal Roy from Kolkata, who communicated with different senior officials of both Indian and Bangladesh govts through email, said they are waiting for the green signal from both govts regarding the repatriation of Sudam.

“With the help of the Odisha government, we will take family members to the Bangladesh border and receive Sudam,” he was quoted by TOI as saying.

Sudam was rescued by Bangladeshi by social worker Md Abdul Goni Fitu, who found him in distress at Golabari railway station in Chapai Nawabganj district. After arranging treatment, Goni obtained clues about Sudam’s origins and, with the help of ham radio clubs in India and Bangladesh, managed to contact his family. Sudam’s nephew, Subhas Chandra Hembram, identified him as the missing relative.