Nayeb-e-Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and former lawmaker Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher has issued the following statement on 12 September, 2020 urging the Authority not to harass homebound expatriates who are coming back from different foreign nations.

Several days back, 219 expatriates returned back home following their imprisoning from different countries including Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. In Bangladesh, they have been kept in quarantine under the supervision of the armed forces for 14 days. But then the police men placed some allegations against them. Based on those assumptive charges, they were sent to jail. The court also asked the authorities to varify the allegations.

Last 3rd September was fixed to submit the investigation report. But instead of submitting such report, I0 sought 30 more days. The court accepted the plea and fixed 20 September as the new date.

We want to say, though some days have been passed, but the law enforcers failed to prove the charge. If they are really involved with any crime they would be punished following proper investigation. But no one should kept behind the bar without judicial process. It contradicts the constitution and the spirit of human rights.

We are calling upon the concerned authorities not to harass the homebound expatriates and to release them immediately through legal and transparent procedures.