Over 600 Bangladeshis are being held in 13 prisons on specific charges across Saudi Arabia as the both countries have no extradition treaty.
With the jailed people, many other Bangladeshis are now detained in the deportation centres for the violation of kingdom’s labour laws.
Earlier, the kingdom announced several phases of amnesty to the illegal migrants between 2013 and 2017. In March 2017, the Saudi crown prince gave migrants 90 days to leave the country or face imprisonment.
The July report prepared by the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia for the expatriate welfare ministry said a total of 739 Bangladeshis are now staying on Riyadh deportation centre.
Of which, 683 people received out-pass and 642 came back home.
Four hundred five people are now in Dammam deportation centre with 203 getting out-pass and 300 going home.
The government, however, is trying with its all-out efforts to bring these expatriates home.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune, foreign ministry official Nahida Rahman Shumona said, “We have been trying in all possible ways that includes brining expatriates back with the help of the labour counsellors.”
“We are also bringing back the Bangladeshis people from Saudi Arabia whose passport has been expired,” said Shumona, who is a joint secretary.
Additional Secretary of the expatriate ministry Dr Ahmed Munirus Salehin, however, said that these people can be repatriated to Bangladesh through international convention if there is no extradition treaty with the country concerned.
On the return cost, an official at the Bangladesh embassy said, “People who are now in behind bars are sent home with out-pass following their release from the jail.”
“Travel expense won’t be a problem, if anyone face it the embassy will arrange the money,” said the official, who wished to go unnamed.