Paschimbanga Jails
Bangladeshis to be freed 'soon'
Bangladeshi nationals languishing in Paschimbanga jails are expected to be released soon as per an initiative of the state government to release foreign prisoners.
Minister for Correctional Administration Shankar Chakraborty said there were a large number of foreign nationals, the bulk of whom are from Bangladesh, lodged in different correctional homes in the state.
“We have already initiated the primary steps in getting them released from correctional homes and repatriated to their respective countries,” Chakraborty told Press Trust of India yesterday.
He said some prisoners had been released and repatriated to the neighbouring country since the Mamata Banerjee-led government took over the reins of the administration.
Some prisoners were released but their repatriation was taking some time because of the delay in verification of their nationality, he added.
“We are taking up the matter with the Ministry of Home Affairs to expedite the process. The Ministry of External Affairs is also working with the Bangladesh authorities,” the minister said.
He said the central government was having a dialogue with the authorities of the countries, where the prisoners hail from, to work out an agreement under which the inmates could serve the remaining part of the terms in their homelands.
Chakraborty said the arrangement would free up space in the overcrowded jails and save resources.
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