Repatriation of 148 Indian nationals stalled as identity verification delays and diplomatic inaction keep them behind bars long after their release dates

Nearly 150 Indian nationals continue to languish in Bangladeshi prisons well after completing their jail terms, with procedural bottlenecks and a lack of coordinated diplomatic action keeping them stranded far from home.

A prison official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that 152 foreign nationals — 148 of them Indian — remain detained across various prisons in Bangladesh despite having served their sentences. The figure draws from prison statistics published six months ago, and officials acknowledge that some of these inmates finished their terms years back. The primary reason cited for the prolonged detention is delays in identity verification, compounded by what observers describe as inadequate bureaucratic and diplomatic follow-through.

Most of the Indian prisoners were originally jailed on charges linked to illegal cross-border entry.

17 Indians Still in Shariatpur Jail

The situation is particularly acute at the Shariatpur District Jail in southwestern Bangladesh, where 17 Indian nationals remain confined despite completing their sentences. News portal Bdnews24.com reported Monday that 20 individuals — later sent to prison on court orders — were detained near the Padma Bridge between 2022 and 2023. They continue to be held as "released prisoners" because neither the verification process nor the repatriation mechanism has been completed.

Jailer Papiya Sultana confirmed the details. The facility currently holds 14 Indian men and three Indian women, many of whom face significant language barriers, making communication with authorities difficult.

Three Inmates Have Died in Custody

The toll of prolonged detention has not been limited to hardship alone. Sultana said two Indian inmates — identified as Satyendra Kumar and Babul Singh — died in the Shariatpur jail on 2 February 2024. A third inmate, known only as Rajan, died on 29 May 2025. The bodies of all three remained in the morgue of Shariatpur Sadar Hospital for an extended period before being cremated locally following completion of legal formalities.

Health Worries Mount Inside Prison

Prison officials have flagged growing health concerns among the Indian detainees still being held. Some inmates are reportedly refusing to eat properly, while language barriers continue to cut them off from basic communication with jail staff and legal representatives. The combination of prolonged confinement, uncertainty about repatriation, and isolation has taken a visible toll.

Calls for Diplomatic Intervention

Shariatpur District Bar Association General Secretary Mridha Nazrul Kabir has called for urgent coordinated action by Bangladesh's foreign and law ministries. He stressed that the inmates need to be reunited with their families and returned to their homeland without further delay.

Officials in Dhaka noted that the backlog is not confined to Indian nationals alone. Prisoners awaiting repatriation also include nationals from Pakistan, Myanmar, and Nigeria — pointing to a broader systemic failure in how Bangladesh handles foreign detainees who have already served their time.

The cases of the 148 Indians, in particular, are expected to draw attention given the close and often complex ties between New Delhi and Dhaka, especially in the current political climate. Diplomatic observers say the matter calls for a dedicated bilateral mechanism to clear such cases faster, rather than leaving individuals trapped indefinitely in a bureaucratic limbo that outlasts their original sentences.