Hasan Mahmud tells JS: 9,370 BD expats languishing in jails
Staff Reporter :
Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud has informed that 9,370 Bangladeshi workers and expatriates are detained in various prisons around the world. He stated that the highest number of Bangladeshi detainees is in Saudi Arabia’s prisons.
During the question-answer session of the Parliament on Monday, Dr. Hasan Mahmud responded the question of the lawmaker Mohammad Huchamuddin Chowdhury. At that time, Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury chaired the House.
The Foreign Minister, according to information received from missions abroad, revealed that there are 5,746 detainees in Saudi Arabia, 508 in Turkey, 415 in Qatar, 414 in Greece, 404 in Abu Dhabi, 385 in South Africa, 358 in Myanmar, 217 in Iraq, 219 in Malaysia, 184 in Beijing, 122 in Hong Kong, 100 in Jordan, 81 in Italy, 66 in Singapore, 49 in Indonesia, 28 in Lebanon, 19 in Spain, 16 in Brunei, nine in Libya, seven in Kunming, six in Egypt, six in Korea, four in Thailand, three in Sri Lanka, two in Japan, one each in Portugal and Algeria Regarding the release of Bangladeshi detainees in foreign prisons and the progress of their repatriation, the minister mentioned that from July last year to the current month, a total of 1,226 Bangladeshis have been repatriated from Libya, France, and other European countries’ prisons.
Additionally, another 950 individuals have been brought back from India, Myanmar, and various countries in Central Asia.
Dr. Hasan Mahmud stated that the diplomats at Bangladesh missions abroad regularly communicate with detained Bangladeshi workers.
They maintain close communication with relevant prison authorities regarding their prompt release.
Detailed investigations are conducted promptly into allegations of various offenses against detained expatriate workers, he told the House.
Diplomatic missions maintain constant communication with relevant police stations and public prosecution offices for thorough investigation into allegations of felonies committed by detained expatriate workers.
He mentioned that a representative or legal assistant from the respective country’s embassy is present at the courts in the host country where expatriate workers are detained, to assist in obtaining justice.
They establish communication and provide utmost cooperation with lawyers or law firms in the respective countries as per the demands of the families of the detained expatriate workers regarding various allegations.
For both special and general consular assistance to detained expatriate workers in prisons, communication is established at the highest level with the relevant authorities in the respective countries, the minister said.
“When the term of imprisonment for detained expatriate workers ends, special travel permits are issued from the embassy’s side for their immediate repatriation, and tickets are purchased,” he said.
In cases of financial allegations against detained expatriate workers and for the purpose of repatriation, communication is maintained with various donour organisations and philanthropic individuals in the respective countries through the embassy.
Additionally, the embassies always maintain communication with the families of deceased convicts for the suspension of punishment.
“When necessary, requests for clemency are sent from the side of the head of state to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the respective countries,” he pointed out.
In cases of Bangladeshi embassies abroad, negotiations are conducted through the courts with the families of convicts who have received the death penalty, for the commutation of sentences through compensation/blood money payments, the minister said.
He said that consular missions abroad maintain regular diplomatic communication with the respective foreign ministries, interior ministries, and judicial departments of the host countries to ensure the provision of consular services to detained Bangladeshi expatriate workers in prisons.
