Indian Court Orders Release of 25 Bangladeshis

On Saturday, the court in Assam ordered the release of 25 Bangladeshi nationals who have been languishing in jail for violating the terms and conditions of their visas.

SM Abraham Lingkon, convenor of the Bangladesh-India Border Victim Rescue Committee, verified the information that the changes had taken place following a request from Bangladesh.

A court in Dhubri relieved the 25 of the charges and ordered them to be released, Lingkon said quoting the Assistant High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Guwahati Tanvir Mansur.

Hailing from Kurigram's Chilmari Upazila, they went to the neighboring country for tourist visas and served as fishermen and farm workers.

On 3 May, the police arrested 26 Bangladeshi nationals from Dhubri on their way home. They were to reach Bangladesh via the Changrabandha check point.

Police also lodged a lawsuit against them arguing that 26 of the breached visa requirements are being extended to operate, while their permits do not enable them to do so. They've been languishing in prison since then.

One of them died in police custody on July 1.

In the meantime, the Bangladesh authorities have taken the initiative to get them home and have instructed their Indian counterparts to do so.

In response to the appeal, the Indian authorities agreed to withdraw the complaint.