Dhaka, June 12 : Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday said that 1,850 Bangladeshi nationals are in various prisons in India and most of them are accused of irregular positions due to procedural reasons.
He said this in response to a written question in the question and answer session of the National Assembly. The Minister said that due to its geographical location, India shares borders with 30 districts of Bangladesh.
He said that after receiving information about any Bangladesh citizen getting detained, the High Commission in India verify the identity of the detained Bangladeshis and meet them with the permission of the concerned authorities and provide necessary legal assistance.
The missions regularly visit the respective prisons, police stations/cells and deportation centers in India and take regular measures to find out the cause of detention of Bangladeshi nationals detained there, provide legal assistance, ensure vital health services and facilities as per the jail code..
Arrangements are made for their repatriation after their release through mediation in the field, especially through the Government of India. In addition, a Task Force on Prevention, Rescue and Rehabilitation of Women and Child Trafficking (RRRI) has been set up between Bangladesh and India, through which activities related to repatriation of trafficked women and children detained in India are undertaken, said Minister Momen.
At present, there are a total of 63 detainees in Myanmar who are considered as Bangladeshis and are serving various sentences for illegal entry.
They will be repatriated once their sentences expire. Many Bangladeshi fishermen enter Myanmar’s border due to unfavourable weather, lack of clear idea about maritime and maritime boundaries, lack of navigation facilities in fishing boats and are detained by Myanmar border guards. Of the 63 detainees in Myanmar, 10 have been confirmed to have Bangladeshi citizenship.
The process of confirming the citizenship of the remaining 50 people is underway. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Bangladesh are active in expediting the repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals imprisoned in Myanmar. Arrangements were made for the repatriation of Bangladeshis from Myanmar through regular flag meetings between the country’s border guards.
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