Staff Reporter :
The interim government has appointed a lawyer to represent 57 Bangladeshi workers who have been imprisoned in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for various terms, including life sentences.
These workers were jailed for protesting the deaths of students and civilians during the student quota reform movement in Bangladesh.
A notice, signed by Muhammad Mizanur Rahman, the Chief of the Bangladesh Mission in the UAE, confirmed the appointment of Barrister Olora Afrin to provide legal assistance on behalf of the Bangladeshi workers. The mission will support the lawyer in her efforts.
In addition, the Foundation for Law and Development (FLAD) announced that they would also provide legal aid to the jailed workers.
Barrister Kazi Maruful Alam, Director of FLAD’s Legal and Research Division, informed the media that the workers were not fully aware of the laws in the UAE. He stated, “To secure the release of the workers, FLAD consultant in the UAE, Zakia Akhtar, has contacted the Bangladesh mission there. She has already reached out to two law firms in the UAE for this purpose.”
FLAD has also sent letters to international organisations, including the Solidarity Centre, Amnesty International, and the Geneva Human Rights Commission, seeking legal support on behalf of the workers, Maruful Alam added.
The human rights organisation FLAD criticised the swift trial process, noting that the workers were sentenced within 48 hours, during which the Bangladesh Embassy was unable to provide assistance due to political unrest in Bangladesh. When Advocate Zakia Akhtar sought information about the case from the Bangladesh Embassy, she was informed that the mission was prioritising the matter.
FLAD has expressed its commitment to providing legal support to the jailed workers and urged their families to contact the organisation.
On Sunday, Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain addressed journalists, stating that the interim government would do everything in its power to secure the release of the Bangladeshi workers. He also mentioned that Chief Adviser Dr Yunus would discuss the matter with the UAE government to prevent further imprisonments.
On 24th July, Human Rights Watch issued a statement condemning the actions of the Emirati authorities, who arbitrarily detained, convicted, and sentenced 57 Bangladeshi protesters following rapid trials. The sentences, ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment, were delivered after expedited judicial proceedings, raising serious concerns about the fairness and due process of the trials.
“There is no way defendants can receive a fair trial when the investigation was launched, trial commenced, and verdict rendered in less than 48 hours,” stated Joey Shea, a researcher on the United Arab Emirates at Human Rights Watch. “These sentences make a mockery of justice, and Emirati authorities should immediately release all those sentenced for peacefully protesting in solidarity.”
On 19th July, groups of predominantly Bangladeshi citizens residing in the UAE held peaceful solidarity protests in multiple locations across the country to support student protesters in Bangladesh. On 20th July, the UAE’s attorney general announced an investigation into the protests, and just one day later, the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal convicted and sentenced all 57 defendants, according to Human Rights Watch.