Over 150 Indians Remain Imprisoned in Bangladesh Despite Completing Sentences
Indians Stuck in Bangladeshi Prisons
File image of EAM Jaishankar (Left) with now Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman (Photo: @DrSJaishankar/X)
Dhaka, Jun 8: A troubling situation persists as nearly 150 Indian nationals remain incarcerated in Bangladesh, even after serving their sentences due to procedural holdups that hinder their return.
According to a prison official speaking on Monday, 152 foreign inmates, including 148 Indians, are still in custody despite having completed their jail terms, as per statistics released six months ago.
The official, who chose to remain unnamed, indicated that many of these individuals had finished their sentences years prior, but delays in the identification process and bureaucratic or diplomatic inaction have extended their imprisonment.
Most of the Indian detainees were apprehended for offenses such as illegal border crossing.
A report from the news portal Bdnews24.com highlighted that 17 Indians are still held in the Shariatpur District Jail, even after their sentences ended, with officials at the correctional facility stating that their repatriation is currently stalled.
The inability to release these inmates stems from unverified identities, and repeated attempts to reach the Indian Embassy have gone unanswered, according to the report.
Jailer Papiya Sultana informed the media that 20 individuals were detained at various times near the Padma Bridge in 2022 and 2023, subsequently imprisoned by court order.
Despite completing their sentences, these individuals remain classified as "release prisoners" (RP) due to the incomplete verification and repatriation process.
Among those affected, Indian nationals Satyendra Kumar and Babul Singh passed away in custody on February 2, 2024, while another inmate, known only as Rajan, died on May 29, 2025.
Prison authorities noted that the bodies of the deceased were stored for an extended period at the morgue of Shariatpur Sadar Hospital, with two being cremated locally in January 2025 and the third in December of the same year after legal procedures were completed.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the health of some inmates who are reportedly refusing to eat properly.
Mridha Nazrul Kabir, General Secretary of the Shariatpur District Bar Association, emphasized the need for coordinated efforts between the foreign and law ministries to facilitate the return of these inmates to their families and homeland.
Prison officials in Dhaka mentioned that besides Indian nationals, inmates awaiting repatriation also include citizens from Pakistan, Myanmar, and Nigeria.