More than 50 Bangladeshi expatriates convicted of various crimes are currently imprisoned in the Maldives. According to the Bangladesh High Commission in the Maldives, an agreement for the transfer of these prisoners back to Bangladesh is in its final stages.

Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to the Maldives, Dr. Mohammad Nazmul Islam, and the Maldives’ Prisons Commissioner, Hassan Jareer, met in a crucial discussion at the Maldives Correctional Services Headquarters on Tuesday (February 10) to expedite the signing of the agreement.

The meeting focused on several mutual interests, with the Bangladesh–Maldives prisoner transfer agreement being given top priority for swift execution and implementation.

In his opening remarks, the Prisons Commissioner of the Maldives welcomed High Commissioner Dr. Nazmul Islam, referring to the relationship between Bangladesh and the Maldives as a symbol of fraternal bonds. He expressed optimism about further strengthening bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner was briefed on the current situation of the Bangladeshi prisoners in the Maldives. He noted that the proposed agreement is crucial for both countries, both from a humanitarian and institutional perspective.

If the agreement is finalized, it is expected to ensure the welfare of the prisoners, facilitate easier communication and visitation with their families, and significantly reduce the financial and administrative burden on the Maldivian government in maintaining foreign prisoners.

The Maldives Prisons Commissioner expressed hope for the swift progress of the agreement and also raised concerns about language barriers in the prison system. He showed interest in starting a Bengali language training program for prison staff.

Additionally, he expressed interest in organizing training and capacity-building programs in Bangladesh for Maldivian prison officials to enhance professional skills through mutual experience-sharing.

Both parties agreed on the importance of expanding cooperation in prison administration as well as other institutional and commercial sectors between the two countries.