2024-07-25 04:05:09
Dubai: A court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced dozens of Bangladeshis to jail for protesting against their country’s government here. Three of them have been sentenced to life imprisonment. State media reported this on Monday. According to the news of the state news agency WAM, the Federal Appeals Court of Abu Dhabi on Sunday sentenced 53 Bangladeshis to 10 years of imprisonment each, one Bangladeshi to 11 years imprisonment and three to life imprisonment. The court has also ordered the deportation of these Bangladeshis from the country after completion of the sentence. WAM reported, ‘The court heard witnesses who confirmed that the accused gathered in large numbers against the decision of the Bangladesh government and took out a huge procession on many streets of UAE.’ UAE officials on Saturday had directed to investigate the arrested Bangladeshis and expedite the hearing of their cases.
There is protest in Bangladesh also due to reservation
The UAE prohibits the formation of political parties or trade unions, and the law largely restricts freedom of expression. The Bangladesh government had provided up to 30 percent reservation in government jobs for relatives of Mukti Bahini members of the 1971 Liberation War, sparking protests in the UAE after several days of violent protests in the South Asian country. Bangladesh’s Supreme Court on Sunday reduced the reservation limit to seven percent; it is being seen as a partial victory for the protesters.
Bangladesh internet shutdown
The situation in Bangladesh is calm after the Supreme Court’s decision on reservation. However, despite this, the internet service remained suspended for the fifth consecutive day. The government declared a public holiday on Monday. More than 100 people have died in the protests so far. No official figures have been given by the government yet. The Supreme Court in its decision made 93 percent of government jobs on the basis of merit. Whereas 5 percent will be for the family members of those who participated in the Liberation War.