Bachul Majhi, a resident of Kakrara village under Majorganj police station in Chitamari district, Uttar Pradesh, India, was arrested on February 22, 2013, for illegally entering Bangladesh through the Ramgarhchhari border in Khagrachhari. The next day, the court sentenced him to six months’ imprisonment without hard labour. After his sentence ended, he was transferred to Jashore Central Prison on November 20, 2018, to facilitate his repatriation. He spent a long time there afterwards.
While in prison, Bachul developed schizophrenia and several other complicated illnesses. On October 9, he developed chest pain and was taken to Jashore General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The plea of this Indian citizen—who remained imprisoned long after his sentence ended—to return to his homeland ended in death.
Like Bachul Majhi, the body of another Indian citizen, Gazi Mondol, is also lying in the morgue of Jashore General Hospital. Gazi Mondol, a resident of Gandhina village under Marutia police station in Nadia district, West Bengal, India, was a convict serving a life sentence with hard labour in an arms case. He fell ill in prison on October 19 and was taken to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Hospital authorities said both bodies will remain in the morgue until a final decision from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Dr. Hussain Shafayat, Superintendent of Jashore General Hospital, told Bangla Tribune: “The hospital morgue has four chambers for storing bodies. One has been out of order for a long time. Of the remaining three, two are occupied by the bodies of the Indian prisoners. This is creating problems in storing other bodies.”
Sentence Over, Yet Still Imprisoned
Like Bachul Majhi and Gazi Mondol, the wish of another 45 Indian citizens in Jashore Central Prison to return to their homeland while still alive has not been fulfilled. There are 52 Indian prisoners in this jail convicted for various offences including infiltration and drug-related crimes. Of them, 45 have completed their sentences. However, they remain imprisoned because approval for repatriation has not been obtained.
According to prison authorities, many of these prisoners had sentences ranging from 15 days to two years. Yet, due to the lack of repatriation, some have been forced to stay for 8 to 15 years. Among the prisoners are seven women, and 24 are over 50 years old. Prolonged detention has caused physical and mental problems for many of them. Lawyers and human rights activists say keeping people imprisoned after their sentences end is a violation of human rights.
Senior lawyer Aminur Rahman Hiru of Jashore said: “It is unfortunate that a large number of Indian citizens remain in prison year after year even after completing their sentences. The governments of both countries must step forward to return them to their families.”
Syed Saberul Haque Sabu, Public Prosecutor of the Jashore District and Sessions Judge Court, said: “Although 45 people have completed their sentences, they have not been released due to complications in handing over the prisoners. This problem can be resolved quickly through discussions at the level of the foreign ministries of the two countries. Getting released after serving their sentences is their human right.”
Charal Devi (48) and Gobinda Bihari (47) have also been waiting for a long time to return home. Charal Devi, a resident of Bihar, India, was arrested in Shariatpur on January 12, 2024. The court sentenced her to eight months in prison. Although her sentence ended on September 2 of that year, she has not been released. Prison authorities say Charal Devi spends most of the day crying.
Gobinda Bihari was sentenced to one year in prison in 2011 for illegally entering Bangladesh. Even after completing his sentence, he has been waiting for about 14 years to return home.
Binoy Krishna Mallick, Executive Director of the human rights organisation Rights Jashore, said: “No matter how complicated the legal and diplomatic process may be, such cases need to be resolved quickly on humanitarian grounds. The right of the bodies lying in the morgue after death to receive a dignified last rites is also linked to international human rights principles.”
Mohammad Ashek Hasan, Deputy Commissioner of Jashore, said most of the prisoners have received approval for repatriation from the Security Services Division of the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, they cannot be sent back because approval from the Indian authorities has not been received. Contact has been made with the Indian High Commission. If there is no response, alternatives for sending them back through the court are also being considered, he added.
Even after completing their sentences, 45 Indian citizens remaining imprisoned, the bodies of two prisoners lying in the morgue after their deaths, and the physical and mental crises of the others—all of this is now awaiting a humanitarian and diplomatic solution.
When prisoners like Charal Devi and Gobinda Bihari will be able to return to their relatives, and when the bodies of Bachul Majhi and Gazi Mondol will reach their families—answers to these questions have not yet been found.