Bangladesh Civil Society for Migrants (BCSM) on Thursday demanded unconditional and immediate release of 255 detained migrant workers.
The platform of 19 organisations said recently 255 Bangladeshi labour migrants were arrested and sent to Kashimpur jail upon their return serving mandatory quarantine period at Diabari, Uttara, for two weeks.
In a press release it said initially the competent court ordered for submission of the investigation report within 10 days, but later it was extended twice in response to police request.
None of them were brought back under any extradition arrangement. Police stated these migrants were arrested as they have "tarnished the image of the country abroad".
They were charged under section 54 of Code of Criminal Procedure on apprehension that if they are released and get dispersed they may commit crimes, including murder, robbery, terrorism and sabotage.
Police sources also said they may be charged for committing "anti-government and anti-state" activities, including violent acts.
The police have not clarified the motive of the detainees. Moreover, it is completely unlawful to arrest or detain someone for an offence that is yet to be committed, BCSM said.
Media reports citing Bangladesh missions in the concerned states, inform most of the detainees were charged for ‘being undocumented’ and for petty narcotic offences in the destination countries and have received royal pardon after having served half of the punishment or more.
Some of them served punishment for not abiding by the telecom rules; presumably for illegally selling talk times which is a common practice in Bangladesh and is not considered as an offence.
The families of the detainees have little information other than their loved ones are in Kashimpur jail. It has also been reported in the media that there are instances of the families being harassed by the investigating officers and even being subjected to extortion.
The families are in all sorts of uncertainty and expressing deep concern in this regard. Under these circumstances, we, 19 member organisations of the BCSM are demanding immediate and unconditional release of the 255 detained migrants, read the release.
The organisations are Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), WARBE Development Foundation (WARBE DF), BRAC, Bangladeshi Ovhibashi Mohila Sramik Association (BOMSA), Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), BASUG, Obhibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP), Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), IMA Research Foundation, International Network of Alternative Financial Institutions (INAFI) Bangladesh, Bangladesh Construction and Wood Workers Federation (BCWWF), Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Bangladesh Ovibashi Adhikar Forum (BOAF), BASTOB, Rights Jessore, Center for Development Communications DEVCOM Ltd, Films 4 Peace Foundation, Change Makers
