495 foreigners in Bangladesh jails: Minister

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan today said there are 495 foreigners in Bangladesh jails.

“A total of 495 nationals of different countries are now languishing in Bangladesh jails,” he said at a seminar titled “Combating Trafficking: Repatriation of Victims of Trafficking” in the city, BSS reported.

National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) organised the seminar with its chairman Kazi Reazul Haque in the chair.

The home minister said the law enforcement agencies detained 495 people for illegally entering Bangladesh. Of them, 57 are convicts. Their home countries refused to take them back, he said.

“We have to work together to prevent human trafficking. None should go abroad without confirmation of jobs and the government would do everything to this end. But the incidence of human trafficking is decreasing due to overall development of the country,” he said.

The minister said the government has been enforcing all existing rules and regulations alongside laws to prevent human trafficking in the country. “Committees are working in all districts to this end.”

In the seminar, Nahim Razzak, MP, National Coordinator and Secretary General of ATSEC, India Manabendra Nath Mandal also spoke.

The minister said Bangladesh gave shelter to 11 lakh Rohingyas, who were displaced from Rakhine state in Myanmar and most of the people who are trying to go abroad by boat are Rohingyas.

NHRC Chairman Kazi Riazul Haque said victims of trafficking in different countries are living in misery and they will have to be brought back.

Although the government enacted law to prevent human trafficking, no tribunal could be formed even after seven years and criminals were not punished, he said adding it is urgent to set up tribunals.