THOUSANDS of Bangladeshi fortune-seekers are in jails of 50 countries where they are being captivated without any legal assistance and unable to communicate with their families or our foreign missions. News media reported that many Bangladesh missions are not well-informed to provide consular assistance as most of these people sneak into those countries through illegal ways without proper documents and for that, they become convicted on charges of illegal immigration. As a result, the undocumented Bangladeshis are living in jails there in inhuman conditions. The government’s effort to bring back the citizens is irregular and feeble.
As per available unofficial record, more than 13,000 Bangladeshis are languishing in foreign jails, of them 3,932 are in different Indian jails. The question which is being raised in different circles is whether those in jails in different countries get the necessary consular services or financial support from the country’s diplomatic missions abroad. There are allegations, and not without basis, that the Bangladesh nationals in jails abroad do not always get the necessary legal aid and cooperation from Bangladesh missions abroad. It is believed that many of those who have been in jails could be released through effective diplomatic efforts. Universally, all countries provide consular services to their nationals as and when they need so.
Very few Bangladeshis detained in foreign jails get the opportunity to seek help from Bangladesh mission or community and get the necessary legal and financial help from the government but there are several others who are bereft off the facility and enduring life in darkest corner thousands of miles away from the motherland. Those who are freed, having served jail terms, or who are stranded for travelling without valid travel documents, should be provided with financial support from the government’s Fund.
The question which has been haunting us is: Why are Bangladeshis facing problems in foreign countries seeking help from Bangladesh missions abroad. Cannot the officials take initiatives on their own to extend consular help to those who need it? Should it not be obligatory on their part to extend necessary help and cooperation spontaneously to those who need it in foreign lands?
In this backdrop of limited employment opportunities at home, our people have been desperately looking for jobs abroad. A section of recruiting agencies taking advantage of the situation has been alluring people with lucrative job offers in different countries that ultimately drive the fortune seekers to be the inmate in jails on the alien land. Let us hope that the number of Bangladeshis in different foreign jails will be reduced by obtaining their release through needed diplomatic efforts by the government. It brings no honour to the government when it fails to protect the interests of our nationals staying in foreign lands, even if someone is involved in legal complications.
As per available unofficial record, more than 13,000 Bangladeshis are languishing in foreign jails, of them 3,932 are in different Indian jails. The question which is being raised in different circles is whether those in jails in different countries get the necessary consular services or financial support from the country’s diplomatic missions abroad. There are allegations, and not without basis, that the Bangladesh nationals in jails abroad do not always get the necessary legal aid and cooperation from Bangladesh missions abroad. It is believed that many of those who have been in jails could be released through effective diplomatic efforts. Universally, all countries provide consular services to their nationals as and when they need so.
Very few Bangladeshis detained in foreign jails get the opportunity to seek help from Bangladesh mission or community and get the necessary legal and financial help from the government but there are several others who are bereft off the facility and enduring life in darkest corner thousands of miles away from the motherland. Those who are freed, having served jail terms, or who are stranded for travelling without valid travel documents, should be provided with financial support from the government’s Fund.
The question which has been haunting us is: Why are Bangladeshis facing problems in foreign countries seeking help from Bangladesh missions abroad. Cannot the officials take initiatives on their own to extend consular help to those who need it? Should it not be obligatory on their part to extend necessary help and cooperation spontaneously to those who need it in foreign lands?
In this backdrop of limited employment opportunities at home, our people have been desperately looking for jobs abroad. A section of recruiting agencies taking advantage of the situation has been alluring people with lucrative job offers in different countries that ultimately drive the fortune seekers to be the inmate in jails on the alien land. Let us hope that the number of Bangladeshis in different foreign jails will be reduced by obtaining their release through needed diplomatic efforts by the government. It brings no honour to the government when it fails to protect the interests of our nationals staying in foreign lands, even if someone is involved in legal complications.
