HC asks govt about jailed expats in KSA
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
The High Court has asked the government for information about what steps its is taking to free 500 Bangladeshis jailed in Saudi Arabia, reports bdnews24.com.
The bench of justices Mohammad Bazlur Rahman and M Enayetur Rahim Monday also wanted to know why the order to bring back these undocumented Bangladeshis should not be given.
The foreign and home secretaries have been asked to respond to the rule within four weeks that came upon a petition filed on Sunday by legal-rights organisation Ain o Shalish Kendra (ASK).
The court also demanded an explanation about the government indifference on the matter should be marked as against the law.
The NGO that provides legal aid filed the petition based on a news report of Oct 13 that said there are 500 Bangladeshis imprisoned in Dammam Jail in the Sheikhdom.
ASK, in its petition, urged the High Court to order the government to repatriate the Bangladeshis.
The Daily Amar Desh report said Bangladeshis jailed in that prison are dying slowly from diseases. The expatriates were arrested for not having valid documents.
The Saudi government has agreed to permit their extradition if their return permit and airline tickets were provided, but their repatriation is not happening due to apathy from the Bangladesh embassy there, the report alleged.
Lawyers Saifur Rashid and Abonti Nurul argued for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Amit Talukder stood for the state.