2,000 detained Bangladeshis in Turkey in dire straits

Even when the nationality of 2,000 Bangladeshis detained in Turkey is finally determined after eight long months, the detainees might face the dire prospect of falling into the trap of "organ mafias" after their release, sources in the foreign ministry have said.

The detained Bangladeshis are in a bad shape and find themselves in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, having lost all their money to human traffickers, the sources added.

The Bangladesh ambassador to Turkey, M Allama Siddiki, has informed the foreign affairs ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) about the vulnerability of the expatriates.

On receiving the letter from the ambassador, the foreign ministry instructed the Public Service Division and the Security Service Division of the home ministry to send reports directly to the embassy and the consulate general’s office in Turkey after identifying the nationality of the detained people within three to four weeks.

The home ministry is now waiting for the report of the Special Branch (SB) of the police, who are verifying identities of the detained Bangladeshis in Turkey, according to the sources.

Home ministry sources said the SB had been asked to determine the nationality of the detainees within the shortest possible time in order to bring them back to the country.

In his letter, the ambassador said: “The detained Bangladeshis may fall into the trap of ‘organ mafias’ or may further try to migrate to European countries by sea or join criminal gangs to stay in Europe after their release from detention... It is very difficult to enter any European country by people of other countries, except Syrians through the Turkey-Europe border, as the border is under surveillance by the border forces of the countries concerned.”

In the letter, the ambassador said the detention of 2,000 Bangladeshis in Turkey had created a negative impression about Bangladesh in that country.

Of the detainees, one had died and the rest faced the threat of health problems, the letter said.

 

2,000 detained Bangladeshis in Turkey in dire straits

Even when the nationality of 2,000 Bangladeshis detained in Turkey is finally determined after eight long months, the detainees might face the dire prospect of falling into the trap of organ mafias after their release, sources in the foreign ministry have said. The detained Bangladeshis are in a bad shape and find themselves in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, having lost all their money to human traffickers, the sources added. The Bangladesh ambassador to Turkey, M Allama Siddiki, has informed the foreign affairs ministry and the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) about the vulnerability of the expatriates. On receiving the letter from the ambassador, the foreign ministry instructed the Public Service Division and the Security Service Division of the home ministry to send reports directly to the embassy and the consulate generals office in Turkey after identifying the nationality of the detained people within three to four weeks. The home ministry is now waiting for the report of the Special Branch (SB) of the police, who are verifying identities of the detained Bangladeshis in Turkey, according to the sources. Home ministry sources said the SB had been asked to determine the nationality of the detainees within the shortest possible time in order to bring them back to the country. In his letter, the ambassador said: The detained Bangladeshis may fall into the trap of organ mafias or may further try to migrate to European countries by sea or join criminal gangs to stay in Europe after their release from detention... It is very difficult to enter any European country by people of other countries, except Syrians through the Turkey-Europe border, as the border is under surveillance by the border forces of the countries concerned. In the letter, the ambassador said the detention of 2,000 Bangladeshis in Turkey had created a negative impression about Bangladesh in that country. Of the detainees, one had died and the rest faced the threat of health problems, the letter said.