157 foreigners remain in jail even after completing sentences: Report
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A total of 157 foreign prisoners are waiting for repatriation after serving their sentences for various crimes in different jails across the country, according to a report submitted to the Attorney General’s Office.
The report, prepared by the prison authorities, further said that among the foreign prisoners, 150 are from India, 5 from Myanmar, and one each from Pakistan and Nepal. And among the 157 prisoners, 19 are women.
Deputy Attorney General Amit Das Gupta said prison authorities sent the report to the Attorney General's Office on Thursday, January 18, 2024, complying with an order of the HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque.
The report will be submitted to the HC bench very soon, or on the next hearing slated for March 10, said the state lawyer.
DAG Amit Das further said, “Even though foreign convicts have served their jail terms, they cannot be released since repatriation to their respective countries involves a process that requires contacting the concerned countries."
The foreign accused have been indicted under ‘The Control of Entry Act 1952’, ‘Passport Act 1952’ and ‘Narcotics Control Act’, said the report.
Earlier on January 19, 2022, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) detained Gobinda Uria, 26, a resident of Kamalpur of Tripura province in India, on charges of infiltration through Srimangal of Moulvibazar district. The next day, they handed him over to Srimangal Police Station.
As a Moulvibazar Court sentenced Gobinda Uria to jail for two months and 10 days, it also pronounced that Gobinda Uria had already served more jail time than his sentence.
The court then asked the jail superintendent of Moulvibazar jail to take steps for the repatriation of Gobinda Uria.
However, Gobinda was not freed from jail even in the last two years after the verdict.
Recently, a TV channel telecast a report regarding the issue.
Annexing the report, a Supreme Court lawyer, Bivuti Tarofder, filed a writ petition with the High Court on January 11.
Upon hearing the writ petition, the HC bench issued a rule regarding the issue and asked for a list of the foreign prisoners who have already served their sentences.
At the same time, the court asked to release Gobinda Uria from jail
It asked the inspector general of prisons to comply with the order.
The court fixed March 10 for passing further orders on the issue.