Officials cite identity verification delays and diplomatic inaction as key obstacles to repatriation
More than 150 foreign nationals, including 148 Indians, remain in prisons across Bangladesh despite having completed their jail terms, highlighting ongoing challenges in repatriation and identity verification, prison officials have said.
According to prison data, a total of 152 foreign inmates were still being held in Bangladeshi jails after serving their sentences. Officials said the prolonged detention was largely due to difficulties in confirming the prisoners’ identities, as well as delays involving diplomatic and administrative procedures.
A senior prison official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many of the Indian nationals had been arrested on charges related to illegal cross-border entry. Once their sentences were completed, efforts to arrange their return were often delayed by a lack of verified documentation and slow communication between relevant authorities.
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The issue is particularly evident in the southwestern district of Shariatpur, where 17 Indian nationals remain in custody despite being eligible for release
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According to local prison authorities, repeated attempts to obtain assistance from the Indian diplomatic mission have so far failed to resolve the matter
Shariatpur District Jail Jailer Papiya Sultana said police had detained 20 individuals at different times near the Padma Bridge area before courts ordered their imprisonment. She added that some inmates had died while awaiting repatriation.
“Among them, Indian nationals Satyendra Kumar and Babul Singh died in jail on 2 February 2024, while another inmate, known only as Rajan, died on 29 May 2025,” she said.
Prison officials in Dhaka said the problem extends beyond Indian nationals. Foreign prisoners from Pakistan, Myanmar and Nigeria are also awaiting repatriation after completing their sentences.
The continued detention of foreign inmates after the completion of their prison terms has raised concerns about administrative delays and the effectiveness of cross-border coordination mechanisms needed to facilitate their return to their home countries.
