Bangladesh

Not Available

Immigration detainees

2019

No Data

Detained children

Overview

(February 2021) Bangladesh hosts a large population of refugees and migrants, the vast majority of whom are Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, who are housed in large refugee camps located in Cox’s Bazar and Bhasn Char island. These camps face enormous congestion and require enormous international humanitarian assistance, while also being the subject of considerable criticism from observers, in particular Bhasan Char. Asylum seekers and refugees from other countries are not officially recognised as the country does not have an institutionalised asylum system nor has it adopted the UN Refugee Convention.

Types of facilities used for migration-related detention
Administrative Ad Hoc Criminal Unknown

06 January 2021 – Bangladesh

On 5 January, journalist Shiafur Rahman reported the first death at the controversial Rohingya refugee centre on Bangladesh’s Bhasan Char island in the Indian Ocean. Rahman also reported the introduction of new restrictions of movement for those at the centre, which were supposedly introduced after an escape attempt. Refugees reportedly now require permission to go […]

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Rohingya Refugees Aboard Bound for Bhasan Char in December 2020, (Mohammad Ponir,

07 December 2020 – Bangladesh

Despite repeated calls from human rights groups for Bangladeshi authorities to remove more than 300 refugees from the island of Bhasan Char (see 10 July Bangladesh update on this platform), The Guardian reports that in early December the country began moving even more Rohingya families from camps near the Myanmar border to the controversial refugee […]

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K. Ahmed & R. Ahmed, “Bangladesh Begins Moving Rohingya Families to Remote Island,” The Guardian, 4 December 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2020/dec/03/bangladesh-begins-moving-rohingya-families-to-remote-island

24 September 2020 – Bangladesh

A controversial refugee settlement set up by the Bangladesh government on the island of Bhasan Char has been under intense scrutiny since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic because of claims by government officials that refugees confined to the site are being kept there as a Covid-19 quarantine measure. This scrutiny has intensified after women […]

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Refugees held on Bhasan Char island protesting to return to Cox’s Bazar during a 3-day “go and see visit” to the island for 40 refugees from the camps in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, September 5, 2020 (Human Rights Watch, “Bangladesh: Reunify Rohingya Refugee Families,” 15 September 2020, https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/15/bangladesh-reunify-rohingya-refugee-families)

10 July 2020 – Bangladesh

On 9 July 2020, Human Rights Watch urged Bangladeshi authorities to immediately move more than 300 Rohingya refugees, including 33 children, from the silt island of Bhasan Char to the Cox’s Bazar refugee camps to join their families. Despite inviting UNHCR and other UN agencies to Bhasan Char island, the Bangladesh government is yet to […]

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An Aerial View of the Bhasan Char Refugee Island Camp, (M. Ahmed & R. Beings,

27 April 2020 – Bangladesh

More than 500 people – including children – have been stranded on two fishing trawlers in the Bay of Bengal, after Bangladesh refused to allow the refugees to come ashore. Last week, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister announced that the boats would not be allowed to dock, adding that in light of the Covid-19 pandemic the country […]

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A Boat Carrying Suspected Rohingya Refugees Off the Island of Langkawi in Malaysia, (Maritime Enforcement Agency Handout, EPA, R. Ratcliffe, “Bangladesh Urged to Open Ports to Allow Rohingya Refugee Boats,” The Guardian, 27 April 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/27/bangladesh-urged-to-open-ports-to-allow-in-rohingya-refugee-boats)

03 April 2020 – Bangladesh

There are critical concerns about the risk of infection spreading uncontrollably in the overcrowded camps and other facilities used to house the some one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Human rights groups issued a joint letter on 1 April commending the government “for working closely with the humanitarian community on COVID-19 preparedness and response in […]

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Last updated:

DETENTION STATISTICS

Total Migration Detainees: Flow + Stock (year)
Not Available
2019

DETAINEE DATA

Total Number of Children Placed in Immigration Detention (Year)
0
2017

DETENTION CAPACITY

ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION

ADDITIONAL ENFORCEMENT DATA

PRISON DATA

Criminal Prison Population (Year)
78,578
2016
72,104
2013
69,850
2011
86,838
2008
74,766
2005
68,178
2002
55,905
1999
43,100
1996
41,618
1993
Percentage of Foreign Prisoners (Year)
0.1
2012
0.1
2012
Prison Population Rate (per 100,000 of National Population)
42
2016
46
2013
45
2011
59
2008
52
2005
49
2002
43
1999
35
1996
36
1993

POPULATION DATA

Population (Year)
164,700,000
2020
160,996,000
2015
International Migrants (Year)
2,185,613
2019
1,422,000
2015
International Migrants as Percentage of Population (Year)
0.9
2015
Refugees (Year)
854,779
2019
906,645
2018
932,216
2017
276,198
2016
231,958
2015
232,472
2014
Ratio of Refugees Per 1000 Inhabitants (Year)
1.7
2016
1.46
2014
New Asylum Applications (Year)
5
2019
0
2016
4
2014
Stateless Persons (Year)
0
2016

SOCIO-ECONOMIC DATA & POLLS

Gross Domestic Product per Capita (in USD)
1,086
2014
Remittances to the Country
14,968,600
2015
Unemployment Rate
2014
Net Official Development Assistance (ODA) (in Millions USD)
2,418
2014
Human Development Index Ranking (UNDP)
142 (Medium)
2015
Pew Global Attitudes Poll on Immigration
77
2007

MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

GOVERNANCE SYSTEM

Legal Tradition(s)
Common law
2017
Muslim law
2017

LEGAL & REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

GROUNDS FOR MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

LENGTH OF MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION

MIGRATION-RELATED DETENTION INSTITUTIONS

PROCEDURAL STANDARDS & SAFEGUARDS

DETENTION MONITORS

> National human rights monitoring bodies

> National Preventive Mechanisms (Optional Protocol to UN Convetion against Torture)

> Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

> Governmental monitoring bodies

> International detention monitoring

TRANSPARENCY

READMISSION/RETURN/EXTRADITION AGREEMENTS

COVID-19

HEALTH CARE

COVID-19 DATA

Has the country released immigration detainees as a result of the pandemic?
Unknown
2021

Has the country used legal "alternatives to detention" as part of pandemic detention releases?
Unknown
2021

Has the country Temporarily Ceased or Restricted Issuing Detention Orders?
Unknown
2021

Has the Country Adopted These Pandemic-Related Measures for People in Immigration Detention?
COVID-19 Testing: UnknownVaccinations: UnknownProvision of Masks: UnknownProvision of Hygiene Supplies: UnknownSuspension of Visits: Unknown
2021

Has the Country Locked-Down Previously "Open" Reception Facilities, Shelters, Refugee Camps, or Other Forms of Accommodation for Migrant Workers or Other Non-Citizens?
Yes
2020

Have cases of COVID-19 been reported in immigration detention facilities or any other places used for immigration detention purposes?
Yes
2020

Has the Country Ceased or Restricted Deportations/Removals During any Period After the Onset of the Pandemic?
Unknown
2021

Has the Country Released People from Criminal Prisons During the Pandemic?
Yes
2020

Have Officials Blamed Migrants, Asylum Seekers, or Refugees for the Spread of COVID-19?
Yes
2020

Has the Country Restricted Access to Asylum Procedures?
Unknown
2021

Has the Country Commenced a National Vaccination Campaign?
Yes
2021

Have Populations of Concern Been Included/Excluded From the National Vaccination Campaign?
People in Immigration Custody (including legal in "alternatives to detention" or at open reception centres): UnknownRefugees: UnknownUndocumented Migrants: UnknownAsylum Seekers: UnknownStateless People: Unknown
2021

INTERNATIONAL TREATIES

International Treaties Ratified
Ratification Year
Observation Date
ICRMW, International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families
2011
2011
OPCRPD, Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2008
2008
CRPD, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
2007
2007
ICCPR, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
2000
2000
ICESCR, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
1998
1998
CAT, Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
1998
1998
CRC, Convention on the Rights of the Child
1990
1990
CEDAW, Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women
1984
1984
ICERD, International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
1979
1979
VCCR, Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
1978
1978
Ratio of relevant international treaties ratified
Ratio: 10/19
Treaty Reservations
Reservation Year
Observation Date
ICCPR Article 10 2000
2000
2000
CAT Article 14 1998
1998
1998
ICESCR Article 2 1998
1998
1998
ICESCR Article 3 1998
1998
1998
CRC Article 14 1990
1990
1990
CEDAW Article 2 1984
1984
1984
Relevant Recommendations Issued by Treaty Bodies
Recommendation Year
Observation Date
Committee on Migrant Workers §34. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Take the steps necessary to ensure that in administrative and judicial proceedings, including detention and expulsion proceedings, migrant workers and members of their families, particularly those in an irregular situation, are guaranteed due process on an equal basis with nationals of the State party before the courts and tribunals; (b) Ensure that the minimum guarantees enshrined in the Convention are assured with regard to administrative and judicial procedures against migrant workers and members of their families. 2017
2017
2018
Committee on Migrant Workers 36. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Make the proactive protection of migrant workers, including those in an irregular situation and those working in isolated conditions, a priority concern for its diplomatic missions in destination States; (b) Strengthen the welfare services and consular assistance provided to the State party’s migrant workers in destination States, including psychological counselling, legal counselling and shelters for migrants in distress, and ensure that such services and assistance are gender-responsive; (c) Ensure that diplomatic missions are adequately staffed and that staff are properly trained on a human rights-based approach to dealing with all issues faced by migrant workers; (d) Ensure that diplomatic missions in States of employment have specific policies on the prevention of and responses to arbitrary detention and sexual and gender-based violence, including having female officers to deal with cases of sexual abuse, a free, hotline that operates around the clock, a roster of competent local lawyers able to help the State party’s migrant workers with legal issues and to conduct frequent visits to migrant detention centres. 2017
2017
2018
Committee on Migrant Workers 54. The Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Facilitate the repatriation of all migrant workers in need, including those who have escaped from abusive employers or have ended up in an irregular situation, in detention or elsewhere; (b) Enhance the gender-responsive services provided for the reintegration of returned migrant workers, including psychosocial services and livelihood opportunities, particularly providing response services for victims of sexual and gender-based violence and those who have experienced abuse during the migration process; (c) Conduct awareness-raising programmes to highlight the contribution of women migrant workers and combat the stigmatization of returning women migrant workers. 2017
2017
2018
Committee against Torture § 14: The State party should: (a) Continue to respect the principle of non-refoulement with respect to all Rohingya refugees from Myanmar on its territory; (b) Adopt a comprehensive law on asylum that is consistent with international human rights standards and norms and is in accordance with article 3 of the Convention; (c) Establish an individualized procedure through which any individual who raises concerns that he or she faces a real, personal risk of torture and ill-treatment if returned by the State party to another country can seek to remain in Bangladesh on the grounds that returning them would violate the country’s non-refoulement obligation under the Convention; (d) Provide training to all relevant officials in the State party on the principle of non-refoulement; (e) Ensure that the authorities put in place measures to identify and provide redress to all survivors of torture and ill-treatment, including non-nationals, and provide them with adequate access to health-care and psychological services; (f) Consider acceding to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol; (g) Cooperate with the ongoing investigation by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court concerning the commission of crimes involving torture against the Rohingya within its jurisdiction. 2019
2019
Committee on the Rights of the Child § 71. "In line with its general comment No. 6 (2005) on the treatment of unaccompanied and separated children outside their country of origin, the Committee recommends that the State party: (a) Provide birth registration and access to basic rights, such as to health and education, for all undocumented Rohingya children and their families on the State party’s territory, irrespective of their legal status; (b) Release asylum-seeking and refugee children held in detention centres and enable them to access the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; (c) Ensure that unaccompanied, separated, refugee and asylum-seeking children are not detained because of illegal entry or stay in the State party; (d) Grant unaccompanied, separated, refugee and asylum-seeking children the right to seek asylum and to stay in the State party until the completion of asylum procedures; (e) Consider acceding to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol." 2015
2015

NON-TREATY-BASED INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

Relevant Recommendations from the UN Universal Periodic Review
Observation Date
No 2009
2017
No 2013
2017

REGIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS MECHANISMS

DETENTION COSTS

OUTSOURCING

FOREIGN SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR DETENTION OPERATIONS