Returnee Migrants: HC throws away case against 219
A High Court bench yesterday threw out the case against 219 returnee migrant workers from Gulf states, stated a press statement issued by Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit.
The bench of Justice Enayetur Rahim and Justice Mustafizur Rahman issued the rule dropping all proceedings against the Gulf returnees.
219 returnee migrants were detained on July 5 under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, following their quarantine period .
The charges under which they were arrested were not specific, and the first information report stated that they were being incarcerated on suspicion that they could perpetrate criminal activities in the future.
"The police also accused them of 'tarnishing the image of the country' and 'hatching conspiracy against the government and the state'. On police plea, the detention order was extended a few times. Subsequently, two other groups of returnee migrants from Vietnam, Qatar and Lebanon were also detained on almost similar grounds after they finished their quarantine period," said the statement.
They got bail at different stages during the last month.
"Earlier, on October 1 the same bench of the High Court summoned the investigating officer of Turag Thana to appear before it to explain why 219 returnees from three Gulf states were detained under Section 54," said the statement.
"The bench of Justice Enayetur Rahim and Justice Mustafizur Rahman also directed the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court to show cause under what law the detention under the General Diary was continuing until then," it added.
Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua made the submission on behalf of one Shahin Alam, a returnee from Bahrain, said the press release.
"The plaintiff sought relief under Section 561A of the Code of Criminal Procedure that empowers 'the High Court Division to make such orders as may be necessary ... to prevent abuse of the process of any Court and otherwise secure the ends of justice'.," it added.
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