Rights groups demand release of 255 returnee Bangladeshi migrant workers from jail
Regional migrant rights groups Migrant Forum in Asia and Lawyers Beyond Borders today called upon the Bangladesh government to release the 255 returnee Bangladeshi migrant workers who have been detained in jail, accused of "suspicious activities".
As the situation of the migrant community becomes aggravated during the coronavirus pandemic, it must be recognised that there should be no space for depriving these individuals of their liberty, the two organisations said in a joint statement.
This should not happen particularly when they have been placed in situations of exacerbated vulnerability, have been forced out of their jobs, and have been forced to leave behind the livelihood their families depend on, they said.
"We are in a time when the human rights and dignity of persons must be at the forefront and a high priority of our immediate response," they added.
Citing media reports, the organisations said the 255 workers have completed their quarantine for Covid-19 after their deportation from Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, and are now being detained in Kashimpur jail, allegedly for violation of Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Most of them were previously arrested in the host countries for committing administrative infractions such as overstay of visa or work permit, or petty crimes, they said.
Thereafter, they all obtained state pardon in the host countries after serving at least two-thirds of their sentences, they added.
"If these 255 returned Bangladeshi migrant workers are being detained solely for 'suspicious acts' during their period of quarantine and 'for tarnishing the image of the country' for acts they committed in Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, and for which reason they were charged, imprisoned, and subsequently pardoned by those states, we would like to appeal to the government of Bangladesh to immediately release them from imprisonment since they have not committed any new crimes," they said in the statement.
The organisations said the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) guidance for Covid-19 highlights that states should urgently explore options for release and alternatives to detention to mitigate the risk of infection within places of detention.
Besides, as one of the country signatories to the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Bangladesh government is duty bound to protect the human rights of migrant workers and members of their families, they further said.
Lawyers Beyond Borders is an international network of legal experts interested in advocating for the rights of migrant workers, brought together by Migrant Forum in Asia.