75 more Bangladeshis released from UAE prison

Seventy-five Bangladeshi expatriates jailed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) were released on Wednesday, with plans to return to Bangladesh within a week, reports UNB.

Their release is part of a broader effort following the intervention of the interim government led by Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus.

The arrests were made during protests against the then Sheikh Hasina regime. As student movement erupted in Bangladesh, protesting government repression, Bangladeshis living in the UAE expressed solidarity by organizing demonstrations.

The UAE authorities detained several protesters, and the Abu Dhabi Federal Court sentenced them to prison terms ranging from 10 years to life.

After the Sheikh Hasina government fell on August 5, 2024, the Prof Yunus-led administration prioritized the release of these detainees. Prof Yunus personally contacted the UAE President, resulting in the release of 188 detainees, including 113 who have already returned to Bangladesh. The remaining 75 will return home soon.