Bangladeshi undertrials write to relatives

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec 17: Malda correctional home authorities have started counselling for Bangladeshi undertrials who have become frustrated languishing in jail for a long time where they are not in a position to meet their relatives like other Indian inmates. Lengthy process of trail and judgment, for such Bangladeshi inmates after amendment of 14 Foreigners Act in 2004, has prompted the jail authorities to organise such programme for them. The superintendent of Malda correctional home has inspired them to write letter to their relatives in Bangladesh informing them about their position here and to ask them to reply soon. Recently literate Bangladeshi under trials have received reply from their relatives from Bangladesh in response to their letters sent. They are now busy replying to their relatives encouraged by jail authorities. The jail authorities monitor all letters coming from Bangladesh. At present a total of 87 Bangladeshi under trails including two women are in Malda correctional home. A few of them have been engaged in jail work to earn Rs 18 per day remuneration so that they can buy their essential items including clothes. “Nobody can come to meet them in this correctional home and supply essential items, but local inmates get those items from their relatives. As a result they become frustrated failing to return to their home within a short period”, said superintendent of Malda jail. “I had asked them did you feel any discrimination in comparison with other Indian inmates here? They said no because we are always counselling them seriously so that they cannot feel unhappy here”, he said. According to the recent amended 14 Foreigner's Act 2004 the system of judgment of such Bangladeshi nationals have been changed. Earlier they were convicted for up to two years and the judicial magistrate used to deal with the matter but at present the period of punishment has been extended up to eight years rigorous imprisonment and only the district judges will be able to issue the order of punishment of those who violated 14 Foreigners Act. Almost all Bangladeshi under trails were arrested in Indian part for crossing Indo Bangladesh borders without valid documents and papers. More than 70 such Bangladeshis have been shifted to Behrampore central jail in 2007, who have been convicted by the session judges in Malda court. They have been shifted to central jail just to reduce the load from Malda jail. From Malda only two have been sent back to Bangladesh recently.