In a recent parliamentary session, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud disclosed a concerning statistic, revealing that a staggering 9,370 Bangladeshi expatriates are currently held in prisons across 26 different countries. Mahmud provided this information while responding to queries during a question-answer session at the National Parliament on Monday afternoon.
Saudi Arabia takes the lead with the highest number of detained Bangladeshi nationals, totaling 5,746. Turkey follows closely with 508 prisoners, while additional significant numbers are reported in Qatar (415), Greece (414), Abu Dhabi (404), South Africa (385), Myanmar (358), Malaysia (219), Iraq (217), China (Beijing) (184), Hong Kong (122), Jordan (100), Italy (81), Singapore (66), Lebanon (28), Brunei (16), Libya (9), China (Kunming) (7), South Korea and Egypt (6 each), Thailand (4), Sri Lanka (3), and Portugal and Algeria (1 each).
Furthermore, between July 2023 and February 2024, a total of 1,226 individuals were repatriated from Libya, with an additional 51 repatriated from France and other European countries. Approximately 1,950 Bangladeshi nationals were also brought back from prisons in India, Myanmar, and various Middle Eastern countries during this period.
In a prepared response, Mahmud outlined the active involvement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Expatriates Welfare, Bangladeshi embassies abroad, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in facilitating the release of detained Bangladeshi expatriates. The minister also emphasized the ongoing liaison with relevant police stations and Public Prosecution Offices to ensure swift and fair investigations into complaints against detained workers.
Responding to a question from MP Nurunnabi Chowdhury, Mahmud highlighted that the Bangladesh government maintains diplomatic relations with 81 embassies worldwide. Initially operating from rented buildings, the prime minister later directed the Ministry of External Affairs to establish its own buildings or purchase ready-made buildings with land, subject to land availability for 32 missions.
Presently, Bangladesh boasts 17 embassies in 14 countries with their own buildings, and there are owned lands in seven countries, Mahmud added.
