All 57 Bangladeshis, who were earlier convicted by the UAE Federal Court for holding protest rallies in solidarity with anti-discrimination student protests in Bangladesh, have been granted pardons by United Arab Emirates president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The decision followed a telephone conversation on August 28 between the UAE president and the chief adviser to the interim government of Bangladesh, according to a press release issued by the Chief Adviser鈥檚 Office on Tuesday.
The discussion encompassed a wide range of bilateral issues, including trade, investment, and employment of human resources, with particular attention to the cases of detained Bangladeshi citizens and the release of 57 Bangladeshi expatriate workers.
鈥楽ubsequently, on 03 September 2024, the UAE attorney general issued a directive to suspend the execution of the sentences, which included the cancellation of the penalties and the arrangements for the deportation of those convicted,鈥� said the release.
The Government of Bangladesh expressed its profound gratitude to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the government of the UAE for their swift and considerate intervention.
The interim government, formed on August 8 after the fall of Sheikh Hasina amid a student-led mass uprising on August 5, took the move for release of the Bangladeshis arrested and sentenced in the UAE for holding demonstrations in solidarity with anti-discrimination student protests in Bangladesh.
At least 57 Bangladeshis were arrested and sentenced in the UAE for demonstrations earlier in July supporting the countrywide student protests in Bangladesh for reforming the quota system in government jobs.
Emirati authorities arbitrarily detained, convicted and sentenced 57 Bangladeshi protesters to long prison terms following a rapid trial based on their participation in peaceful demonstrations in the UAE, United Arab Emirates, Human Rights Watch, an international rights body, said in a statement on Wednesday.
On July 24, former foreign minister Hasan Mahmud said that arrest and imprisonment of 57 Bangladeshi nationals over protests in the UAE were in accordance with their internal law and termed it as the UAE鈥檚 internal matter.
Families back home claimed that, in addition to these 57 convicts, several other expatriates had been detained on the same allegations.
Asked whether the others detained on the same ground beyond the 57 convicts had also been pardoned, Bangladesh ambassador to the UAE, Md Abu Zafar, said,鈥� 鈥楿AE MoFA is yet to clarify this issue. However, it appears that those who have been detained in connection with the demonstration in support of the recent student-led mass uprising back home may take advantage of the UAE鈥檚 lenient approach in this regard.鈥櫬�
