DHAKA: A total of 495 foreign nationals are currently in Bangladesh prisons.  Although 86 of them were freed, no country agreed to take them. As a result, many of them are in prison. 

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal revealed the information at a seminar at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital city on Saturday (April 20).

National Human Rights Commission organized a seminar titled 'Combating Trafficking: Repatriation of Victims of Trafficking'.

The minister said, “Throughout the world, there has been a history of forced human trafficking. Bangladeshis are not being trafficked forcibly; being taken by luring good jobs. As a result, they are being victimized; many got stranded in different countries.

He said 495 foreigners remained captive in Bangladesh jails, while 57 of them were convicted. Although 86 are freed, respective countries are not coming to take them back.  So, they are imprisoned.

“There are committees of police in every district of the country to prevent human trafficking. All of those remain under surveillance of the Home Ministry. Besides, the capacity of BGB and Coast Guard has increased in the border area”, Asaduzzaman Khan also said. 

Chief of IOM- UN Migration Agency's mission in Bangladesh Giorgi Gigauri, member of the parliament Nahim Razzak, ATSEC India Coordinator Manabendra Nath Mandal, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Kazi Reazul Haque, and others.

BDST: 1640 HRS, APR 20, 2019
RS/SMS