A prison official in Bangladesh stated on Monday that 152 foreign nationals, including 148 Indians, are still incarcerated in the country's jails even though they have already served their full sentences. This revelation comes from prison statistics published six months ago.
Reasons for Continued Detention
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that the prolonged captivity is primarily due to delays in the identification process combined with bureaucratic or diplomatic inaction. Many of the Indian inmates were arrested on charges such as illegal cross-border entry, which complicates their release.
Case Study: Shariatpur District Jail
According to a report by Bdnews24.com on Monday, 17 Indians are still being held in the southwestern Shariatpur District Jail alone. These inmates cannot be released because their identities remain unverified. The report also noted that repeated attempts to contact the Indian embassy for assistance went unanswered.
Jailer Papiya Sultana told the outlet that police had detained 20 people at different times near the Padma Bridge, and they were later sent to prison on court orders. She added, "Among them, Indian nationals identified as Satyendra Kumar and Babul Singh died in jail on February 2, 2024, while another inmate, known only as Rajan, died on May 29, 2025."
Other Nationalities Affected
Prison officials in Dhaka confirmed that besides India, inmates awaiting repatriation include citizens from Pakistan, Myanmar, and Nigeria. The situation highlights ongoing challenges in resolving the status of foreign prisoners who have completed their sentences but cannot be deported due to lack of documentation or diplomatic coordination.
