Over 10,000 Bangladeshis detained in foreign jails: Foreign Minister

More than 10,000 Bangladeshi nationals are currently detained or serving time in prisons across different countries, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman told Parliament on Thursday (September 10).

Citing the latest information received from Bangladeshi diplomatic missions abroad, the minister said an estimated 10,066 Bangladeshis are currently behind bars overseas.

He was responding to a question from Kazi Enamul Haque, a lawmaker from the Jashore-5 constituency, in Parliament.

Rahman said Bangladesh must respect the legal processes of host countries while pursuing diplomatic efforts to assist and repatriate detained nationals.

Once a Bangladeshi citizen is reported to be in foreign custody, the relevant embassy or mission visits the prison or detention centre, meets the detainee, collects case-related information and provides guidance on legal protection.

If a detainee cannot afford a lawyer, the mission seeks to facilitate the appointment of one through the local court. Missions also assist families who wish to arrange private legal representation.

In cases involving fines, diplomatic missions coordinate with families to arrange payment. They can also help secure air tickets for return, with the government covering repatriation costs when families cannot afford them.

Missions also assist with travel documentation and other airport formalities. Where necessary, travel passes are issued promptly after prisoners complete their sentences.

The Foreign Ministry provides these services in coordination with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board.

The minister said diplomatic efforts are also made, where appropriate, to seek amnesty from host-country authorities. Such efforts have recently been pursued to bring home Bangladeshis detained in several Middle Eastern countries and three Bangladeshi fishermen held in Myanmar.

The Foreign Ministry will soon launch a dedicated portal to facilitate faster action on the repatriation of Bangladeshis detained abroad, Rahman said.