They call off hunger strike

Fifty-four South Asians, including 35 Bangladeshis, seeking asylum in the US ended their six-day hunger strike at a detention centre in El Paso, Texas on October 20 following two days' negotiations between Dhaka and Washington, said diplomatic sources.

However, a press release of the Bangladesh embassy in Washington says the figure was 41, including the 35.

Minister (Consular) Md Shamsul Alam Chowdhury at the embassy led the negotiations earlier that day with representatives of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Department of Homeland Security, it adds.

Insisting that all the detainees be released through "bail bonds", he brought food for the ICE detention facility's protesters, persuaded them into cancelling the strike and informed them about some decisions.

Sources said the demonstrators were allegedly protesting confinement, lack of access to healthcare or medical staff and to interpreters, harsh treatment from guards, and possible deportation.

Both sides agreed on releasing the detainees from October 26 to November 15; and allowing 17 to shift to preferred facilities and seek relatives' assistance in hiring lawyers to seek revision of the El Paso immigration judges' "final removal order" on them.

However, conditions of the release were that, by today, they had to have some ID card, legal documents or passport authenticated by the embassy; credible sponsors; and those having participated in the hunger strike had to be physically fit.

The US authorities also demanded that all detainees be issued travel documents and "removal" of these illegals back to Bangladesh on a special chartered flight and threatened bringing special charges if the hunger strike continued.

The papers were scheduled to be available by yesterday and many provided names of sponsors while Shamsul managed others calling up Bangladesh community leaders. The ICE will verify the sponsors' status by today.