GUWAHATI, June 8 - In a development that may provide momentum to the deportation process of Bangladeshi nationals from the State, the office of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner in Guwahati has written to the Government of India seeking consular access to visit different jails of Assam where Bangladeshi nationals are languishing.
Newly-appointed first Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner Kazi Muntashir Murshed told The Assam Tribune that he is waiting for a response from the appropriate authorities of the Indian government in this regard.
�Meanwhile, I have already collected a partial list of Bangladeshi nationals who are languishing in different jails despite their jail term being over. The list of such individuals has been sent to Bangladesh for necessary intervention,� the diplomat stated.
He went on to inform that once these individuals are verified by the authorities in Bangladesh, appropriate measures will be taken to repatriate them.
It has been reliably learnt that family members of many such Bangladeshi nationals lodged in the detention camps in the State have moved the office of the Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner seeking his intervention.
Meanwhile, State Government sources informed that the government has deported 30 Bangladeshi nationals in the last one year or so.
�Ever since the new government has taken over, the process of deportation has somewhat gained momentum. But there are many such persons still languishing in the detention camps of the State,� sources said, adding, five more Bangladeshi nationals, whose nationality status has been verified, are expected to be deported to Bangladesh any time soon.
�Once the consular access is granted, the deportation process should get expedited. Prior to this year, the rate of deportation was abysmally low,� the sources pointed out.
