UNB :
All 57 Bangladeshis who were earlier convicted by the Federal Court of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have been pardoned on Tuesday by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, president of the UAE.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus disclosed this at a meeting with editors of media outlets.
“All are pardoned. We are very happy,” The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam told reporters following the meeting, giving Prof Yunus full credit for his personal initiative.
Earlier on August 28, Prof Yunus made a request to the UAE President regarding this issue.
“It was a big challenge for us,” Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam told reporters on Tuesday, expressing the government’s satisfaction over the achievement.
He said they are in touch with the Bangladesh Embassy in UAE and concerned departments regarding the next stage of the process.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka is also following up the matter.
In line with the top directive, Chancellor Dr Hamad Al Shamsi, UAE Attorney General, has issued an order to halt the implementation of the sentences and commence procedures to send them back.
The Attorney General also called on all residents of the UAE to respect the country’s laws, stressing that the right to express opinions is protected by the state and its legal framework, according to Gulf News.
He highlighted that the state provides lawful means for expressing views, ensuring this right does not turn into actions that could harm the interests of the nation and its people.
In July, a court in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) jailed 57 Bangladeshi nationals for holding protests in the Gulf country against the previous government in Bangladesh.
Three Bangladeshis were sentenced to life, 53 others to 10 years in prison, and one to 11 years for “gathering and inciting riots” during protests.