Bangladesh prisons hold 238 Indian nationals, making Indians the largest group among foreign prisoners in the country, according to a media report. Of these, 168 have reportedly completed their sentences but remain in detention while arrangements for repatriation are pending.
The figures, however, differ from those provided by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. An official from its Consular Wing said only 25 verified Indian nationals who had completed their sentences were awaiting return to India, highlighting nationality verification as a major obstacle.
According to the report, Bangladesh has at least 407 foreign prisoners from 15 countries. They are incarcerated for offences ranging from drug and human trafficking to gold smuggling and operating illegal Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) businesses.
Nationality Verification Delays Repatriation
The Indian High Commission said Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry had shared lists identifying 121 prisoners as Indian nationals who had completed their sentences. However, officials said the personal details supplied for most of these individuals were insufficient to establish their Indian nationality.
The High Commission has requested access to the prisoners and is awaiting a response from Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry. Verification procedures remain underway in several cases.
The discrepancy between the reported figure of 168 Indian prisoners awaiting repatriation and the 25 verified cases illustrates the administrative challenges involved in confirming identities before individuals can be returned across the border.
An earlier report in June cited prison statistics indicating that 148 Indians were among 152 foreign prisoners in Bangladesh awaiting repatriation after completing their sentences. At the time, officials also pointed to identification delays and bureaucratic hurdles.
Myanmar Nationals Form Second-Largest Group
Prisoners from Myanmar constitute the second-largest foreign group in Bangladesh’s jails, with 133 people reportedly held. However, only one Myanmar national was listed as awaiting repatriation after completing a sentence.
The remaining foreign prisoners include six Nigerians and three each from Pakistan and Malaysia.
Foreign Prisoners Add to Administrative Pressure
Foreign prisoners are reportedly housed in separate cells for security reasons, with CCTV cameras monitoring areas outside their wards.
Prison officials have said retaining foreign nationals beyond their sentences creates logistical difficulties and additional costs for the government.
The situation highlights the need for coordination between Bangladesh’s authorities and foreign diplomatic missions to establish identities, complete documentation and facilitate repatriation where legally permitted.
Read more: Visit the Ministry of External Affairs, India for official information on consular assistance and services for Indian nationals abroad.
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