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INFORMATION FOR BRITISH PRISONERS IN BANGLADESH Author British High Commission Dhaka Date 01 July 2019
INFORMATION FOR BRITISH PRISONERS IN
BANGLADESH
Author British High Commission Dhaka
Date 01 July 2019
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Contents INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................. 4
Who can help .................................................................................................................... 4
About the High Commission .............................................................................................. 4
Contact Information ..................................................................................................................... 4
VISITS .................................................................................................................................. 5
How do my family and friends arrange a visit? .................................................................. 5
How many visits am I allowed? .......................................................................................... 5
Consular visits ................................................................................................................... 5
What can visitors bring? .................................................................................................... 5
Who will know that I have been detained? ......................................................................... 5
What can my family will be told? ........................................................................................ 6
What will the High Commission do? .................................................................................. 6
Would I have a criminal record in the UK? ......................................................................... 6
PRISON CONDITIONS/SERVICES ...................................................................................... 7
Arrival at police station ...................................................................................................... 7
Arrival at prison ................................................................................................................. 7
General prison conditions .................................................................................................. 7
How can I receive money? ................................................................................................ 7
Can I work or study in prison? ........................................................................................... 9
Can I receive medical and dental treatment? ..................................................................... 9
Food and Diet .................................................................................................................. 10
Mail/Parcels ..................................................................................................................... 10
Can I make telephone calls? ........................................................................................... 10
Leisure and entertainment ............................................................................................... 10
Drugs .............................................................................................................................. 10
How can I make a complaint about mistreatment? .......................................................... 10
THE BANGLADESHI JUDICIAL SYSTEM .......................................................................... 11
Is the system the same as the UK? ................................................................................. 11
What should happen when I am arrested? ...................................................................... 11
For how long can I be remanded in custody? .................................................................. 12
What happens when I am charged? ................................................................................ 12
What provision is there for bail? ...................................................................................... 12
What kind of legal assistance is available ........................................................................ 12
What happens at the trial? ............................................................................................... 12
Sentences ....................................................................................................................... 12
How can appeals be made? ............................................................................................ 13
What provision is there for reduction of sentence (remission) e.g. for good behaviour? ... 13
What provision is there for early release e.g. on parole? ................................................. 13
What provision is there for clemency or pardon? ............................................................. 13
What about any financial penalties? ................................................................................ 13
Is transfer to another prison within Bangladesh possible? ............................................... 13
Is transfer to the UK a possibility? ................................................................................... 13
What are the procedures for release and deportation? .................................................... 13
Additional Information ......................................................................................................... 14
Bangladesh Prison .......................................................................................................... 14
Prisoners Abroad ............................................................................................................. 14
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Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................... 16
Key phrases – English into Bangla .................................................................................. 16
Annexes .............................................................................................................................. 19
Disclaimer ........................................................................................................................... 20
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INTRODUCTION
Who can help
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO):
The FCO is represented overseas by its Embassies and Consulates (High Commissions in
Commonwealth Countries). Both employ consular officers, and one of their duties is to provide help
and advice to any British National who gets into difficulty in a foreign country.
About the High Commission
We are impartial; we are not here to judge you. We aim to make sure that you are treated properly
and fairly in accordance with local regulations, and that you are treated no less favourably than other
prisoners.
We can answer questions about your welfare and about prison regulations but you must ask your
lawyer or the court about legal matters. The attached list of lawyers is provided by the British
Embassy for your convenience, but neither Her Majesty’s Government, nor any official of the
Consulate, take any responsibility for the competence or probity of any firm/advocate on the list or for
the consequence of any legal action initiated or advice given.
We cannot get you out of prison, pay fines or stand bail or interfere with local judicial procedures to
get you out of prison nor secure you an earlier trial date; we cannot investigate a crime.
We have tried to make sure that the information in this booklet is accurate and up to date, but the
British High Commission cannot accept legal responsibility for any errors or omissions in the
information. If in doubt contact a lawyer.
Contact Information
British High Commission Dhaka
United Nations Road Baridhara, Dhaka 1212 Tel: 00880-(2) - 55668700,Fax: 00880-(2)-9843437, Office Hours: Sunday to Wednesday 08:00 – 16.00. Thursday 08:00 – 14.00
Web: www.gov.uk/world/bangladesh
file:///C:/Users/rmoinchowdhur/Desktop/www.gov.uk/world/bangladesh
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VISITS
How do my family and friends arrange a visit?
For Bangladeshi and Dual Nationals: Your visitors should write to the jail super to get permission
to visit you, they will not be able to visit without written permission. There is a general visitors’ area,
and sometimes you may be allowed to meet visitors in the more comfortable area outside the jailer’s
offices - but this is at the discretion of the jailer. If the individual (visitor) holds dual nationality and any
form of a Bangladeshi identity document, they can send a letter to the Senior Jail Super of the
respective prison for permission to visit. It should not take any longer than 5 to 10 days.
For Foreign Visitors: The process for foreigners to visit friends or family in Bangladesh Prison is not
straightforward. Any foreigners would need to send a detailed application (stating the relationship and
reason of visit) along with a copy of their passport to the Home Ministry.
Ministry of Home Affairs contact details:
Senior Secretary
Bangladesh Ministry of Home Affairs
Dhaka
Bangladesh
Email address of Ps to Senior Secretary: [email protected]
How many visits am I allowed?
You are generally allowed to receive visitors once every 15 days for 30 minutes. You may be allowed
extra visits if there are special or compassionate reasons (for example, distance health or medical
reasons).
Consular visits
We will normally visit you every three months; during our routine visits you will have the opportunity to
discuss any health issues, security concerns, your treatment in prison and any other general issues
that you wish to raise with our Consular staff. At each Consular visit, our staff will complete a "Visit
Report Form". If there is any information that you would prefer not to disclose to a Next of Kin you
should let us know during the visit.
What can visitors bring?
Visitors can bring “prison comforts”. All bags and parcels will be searched before entry and authorities
have the right to withhold items they deem to be unacceptable (amongst others, weapons, knives,
alcohol, drugs, home-made food).
Who will know that I have been detained?
In accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations to which Bangladesh is a signatory,
a British national under detention by the Bangladesh authorities, whether in a police station or a jail,
has a right to request that the British High Commission be notified and a right to see us within a
reasonable amount of time. In practice this does not always happen and sometimes we need to ask
the authorities once we know from family and friends or the media that you have been detained.
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What my family will be told?
Only if you have committed a very serious offence e.g. a sexual crime against children, a terrorist act,
will we have to share this with the appropriate legal authorities in the UK.
If you wish to inform your family, we can make contact with them through our colleagues in the FCO
in London. We can give your family or next of kin advice on prison procedure, regulations, and how
you are doing. We can also pass on any messages between you.
What will the High Commission do?
As soon as we have been notified of your arrest or detention by any source, we will aim to visit you in judicial or police custody or the custody of any other detaining authority.
However, we will need to apply for permission to do so through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs but obtaining the permission can take several weeks. During our routine visits you will have the opportunity to discuss any health issues, security concerns,
your treatment in prison and any other general issues that you wish to raise with our consular staff.
We will consider approaching the local authorities if you are not treated in line with internationally-
accepted standards.
Would I have a criminal record in the UK?
You should be aware that if you have been convicted for certain serious offences, such as sexual
assault or drugs trafficking, we are obliged to inform the UK police. It is therefore possible that
information about this offence may appear if a Criminal Records Bureau check were carried out by
a prospective employer.
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PRISON CONDITIONS/SERVICES
Arrival at police station
If you are arrested the police will take you to the nearest station. Article 33 of the Constitution of
Bangladesh provides four fundamental freedoms or safeguards upon a person arrested under
ordinary law. 1) he cannot be detained in custody without being informed of the charge against
him/her as soon as may be, of the grounds of his arrest 2) he must be given the right to consult and to
be represented by a lawyer of his own choice; 3) he has the right to be produced before the nearest
magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest; and 4) he cannot be detained in custody beyond the period of
24 hours without the authority of the magistrate.
Arrival at prison
After arrival at the prison, you will be searched and all weapons and prohibited articles shall be taken from you.
Medical checks will be carried out by the prison health department in order to assess if you need any
treatment for ongoing medical conditions (e.g. blood pressure, diabetes, HIV). In the case of female
prisoners the search and examination shall be carried out by the matron under the general or special
orders of the Medical Officer.
General prison conditions
Prisons in Bangladesh are generally overcrowded and lack adequate facilities. with people who have
yet to be convicted and are awaiting trial. You cannot expect a single cell as a matter of course.
Sometimes not even a mattress will be available to you. Unfortunately the High Commission is not
allowed to buy new mattresses; you will need to wait until the prison provides you with one. You
should also be aware that the conditions of toilets and showers are extremely poor in Bangladesh
prisons.
Most prisons will provide basic toiletries, standard clothing and linen; other items can be purchased
directly from the prison shopping list which most of the prisons offer on a monthly basis.
How can I receive money ?
There are two ways in which you can receive financial assistance while in prison.
Private Funds: Deposited to you by your family or friends. Please see below for instructions on how to send funds.
Prisoners Abroad: If your family can’t support you financially Prisoners Abroad may be able to send you a small grant every 3 months for essentials.
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Options to transfer funds to British Nationals Overseas via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Please note: we can only advance funds to the person overseas once the payment has cleared in our account.
1. Electronic bank transfers
Payment by electronic/internet bank transfer can be made either using online or telephone banking, or at your local bank or building society. For all bank transfers, you will need to include the following details: Bank: National Westminster Bank Account Name: FCO Multi Vote Sort Code: 60-70-80 Account Number: 10012362 Reference: FCO case reference number, surname and first name of the person you
are sending the funds for, plus country name if possible, e.g.:
11-BDT-123456 SMITH JOE – BANGLADESH or
CON-1234-SMITH JOE –BANGLADESH
IBAN GB56NWBK60708010012362 SWIFT/BIC NWBKGB2L
You may also need our bank address which is: National Westminster Bank, Government Banking,
CST PO Box 2027, Parkland, De Havilland Way, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 4YU.
2. By Post Payments by Postal Order, Bankers Draft, Building Society Cheque or personal cheque should be crossed and made payable to “The Foreign and Commonwealth Office”. They should be sent to:
Accounts Receivable Foreign and Commonwealth Office Corporate Service Centre PO Box 6108 Milton Keynes MK10 1PX
We recommend that you use Special Delivery.
Please ensure that you include a note briefly explaining who the money is for, why you are sending these funds and quoting the FCO case reference number. You may wish to use the payment slip on the next page.
If you would like a receipt, please include a stamped addressed envelope.
Please note that it can take approximately 15 days for personal cheques to clear and for payment to be received. Please write the cheque guarantee number and expiry date, and the FCO case reference number, on the back of the cheque.
We are unable to receive payment by credit or debit card, or by cash.
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To: Foreign and Commonwealth Office FCO case reference number: Date:
Please find enclosed funds for: Full Name: Country/place the above is in: Amount enclosed: Fee to be deducted: Payment method: My name is: My address is:
Can I work or study in prison?
Only prisoners who have been sentenced can work in the prison but that depends upon the
prison authorities and work facilities provided in the prison.
Study opportunities are also available, however the number of slots are limited and the wait time
could be quite long.
Can I receive medical and dental treatment ?
Hospital facilities are available in twelve prisons only and the remaining prisons lack any such health
service facilities; none of these hospitals has an ambulance for emergency transport. Prisoners are
taken to outside hospitals for specialist treatment, but you will have to pay for all your own drugs. Your
family will be able to send drugs in, if the prison doctors agree. The consular staff can pass drugs
from your family to the prison authorities.
On arrival at the prison, prisoners should make the prison authorities aware of any medical conditions that they may suffer from. If the situation is urgent you should ask the prison to contact us directly; as we will try to help you as quickly as possible by liaising with the prison. You may wish to give your
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doctors in the UK permission to talk to the prison doctors, of the consular staff about the drugs you have been on or the treatment you have been previously receiving. We cannot talk to doctors about your specific personal circumstances without your permission.
Food and Diet
There is a prison shop. Prisoners are allowed cash which is held by the jailers as “prisoners’ cash”.
Your family can add to your account. If you do not have money or are unable to earn money working
in prison, your family and friends can send money to you via the FCO. We do not have any funds to
help prisoners with money.
Mail/Parcels
We can seek to get the full mailing address of a prisoner. There is usually no limit to the number of
letters prisoners may send or receive. However, prison authorities vet the contents of all letters
including those to lawyers. We have been told that a letter will be stopped if it contains anything
detrimental about Bangladesh. Sometimes unreliable international mail system between Bangladesh
and the UK can cause further delays. Our Consular staff can help British prisoners to correspond with
their families abroad.
Can I make telephone calls?
Prisoners cannot make or receive telephone calls .Prisoners are strictly forbidden by the prison
authorities to possess mobile phones.
Leisure and entertainment
All Prisons in Bangladesh are equipped with TV rooms and have libraries where Prisoners can study.
Prisoners are allowed take books from the library back to their cell.
Drugs
It is widely known that drug trafficking between inmates in prisons is widespread. If you are caught
with any kind of illegal drugs you will be punished accordingly.
How can I make a complaint about mistreatment?
If you wish to file a complaint please write to the British High Commission or let us know during the
consular visit so that we take your concerns forward.
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THE BANGLADESHI JUDICIAL SYSTEM
The High Commission cannot interfere with the Bangladeshi Judicial system. We cannot ask for your
case to be judged quickly or ask the authorities to waive any penalties.
Is the system the same as the UK?
The Court system in Bangladesh has two levels: the Lower courts and the Supreme Court. The
subordinate courts in Bangladesh are one of the two tiers of the court system in Bangladesh and the
other tier is the Supreme Court. The subordinate courts are located in different districts and
metropolitan areas across Bangladesh. All the subordinate courts are under the authority or
supervision of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh that is, all the subordinate courts of Bangladesh are
subservient or subjugated to the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. There are a wide variety of
subordinate courts, such courts are the creatures of statutes. Their powers, Functions and
jurisdictions are also determined by the respective statutes. These are the basic courts in the system
of the judiciary of Bangladesh. The major bulk of the cases, are tried and heard in such courts. The
basis of subordinate courts are-
* Article. 114 of the Constitution of Bangladesh which deal with the establishment pf subordinate
courts and lays down the there shall be in addition to the Supreme Court, such courts subordinate
there to as may be established by law.
* The Civil Courts Act 1887
* The Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) 1898
The subordinate courts in Bangladesh can be divided in two broad classes, namely, civil courts and
criminal court.
The Supreme Court is divided into two sections: the High Court Division and the Appellate Division.
The high court hears appeals on original cases mostly dealing with Constitutional issues (writs), bails
and reviews cases from the lower courts. The appellate court has jurisdiction to hear appeals of
Judgements, decrees, orders, or sentences of the high court. Rulings of the Appellate division are
binding on all other courts.
Metropolitan Magistrate Court found in Metropolitan areas of Bangladesh also deals with criminal
cases. In criminal cases in the Courts of Magistrates certain categories of police officials (court police)
play the role of prosecutors. Besides police officials, the lawyers appointed as Public Prosecutors
(PP) and Assistant Public Prosecutors (APP) also act as prosecutors.
What should happen when I am arrested?
When you are arrested, you must be produced before a judicial magistrate or a Judge within 24 hours
of your formal detention. Depending on the nature of the allegation, the Judge may grant you bail or
give out an order for you to either remain in police custody for investigation up to a certain period
or to be transferred to a judicial lock up during the period of trial. Please note, the arrest
procedure may vary according to the nature of crime and the individual circumstances.
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For how long can I be remanded in custody?
Where an investigation could not be completed within 24 hours after the arrest of suspect, the police
officer must bring the suspect before a Magistrate to obtain an order that the suspect be further
detained to enable the police to complete their investigation. Such an order granted by the Magistrate
is invariably known as the "remand order".The Magistrate before whom an accused person is
produced will authorize the detention of the accused in such custody as the Magistrate thinks fit for a
term not exceeding fifteen days in the whole.
What happens when I am charged?
The courts will inform you, your lawyer/public prosecutor and the prison authorities of your sentence.
If you don’t have a private lawyer you will be assisted by public prosecutors who will put forward
requests for benefits such as parole or clemency.
What provision is there for bail?
There is a bail system in the regular courts, although, under certain security and crime law, a non-
bailable period of detention exists. Your lawyer/public defender will be best placed to advice on this
matter. Bail might be decided by the police officer in charge of the case or the court and the person
will be held until the bail is paid.
What kind of legal assistance is available
Consular staff cannot give legal advice, but we can provide you with a list of lawyers, some of whom
speak English. You can hire a lawyer for yourself at any time after your arrest; a list of lawyers is
included in this information pack. Normally, if you hire a private lawyer you will be asked for a cash
advance towards estimated legal fees (which may be very high) before your case will be taken on.
The British High Commission cannot pay legal fees or guarantee to a lawyer that you will pay them.
State-funded Defence Lawyers rarely are provided, and there are few legal aid programs to offer
financial assistance to detainees. Lawyers are usually allowed only after charges are filed, which is
when a trail is being heard. In our experience it can be many, many months before charges are filed.
Legal representatives are granted access to their clients arrested under Section 54, but in practice,
police rarely allowed lawyers to confer with their clients arrested under these sections of the law.
What happens at the trial?
The law provides accused persons with the right to be represented by counsel, to review accusatory
material, to call witnesses, and to appeal verdicts. Judges decide cases without the use of juries.
Trials are public, and defendants have the right to an attorney; however, state-funded attorneys are
rarely provided. Under the provisions of the Public Safety Act, Law and Order Disruption Crimes
Speedy Trial Act (STA), and the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, special tribunals
hear cases and issue verdicts. Cases under these laws must be investigated and tried within specific
time limits, although the law is unclear about the disposition of the case if it was not finished within the
allotted time period.
Sentences
Sentences vary greatly in Bangladesh and will depend on the seriousness of the crime. Your
lawyer/public defender will be best placed to advice on length of sentences and on appeals’
processes.
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How can appeals be made?
You have the right to appeal against your sentence in the Higher Courts through your lawyer or public
defenders. It is usual for the public defenders to appeal against your first sentence anyway. However,
the appeal process is usually very slow and can sometimes lead to the appellant's release being
delayed until the appeal is decided. In such cases a lawyer's opinion of the case is strongly
recommended before proceeding.
What provision is there for reduction of sentence (remission) e.g. for good behaviour?
In Bangladesh, the early release measure that exists is Remission. This is considered for prisoners
who have demonstrated good conduct and have proven records of positive change in their behaviour.
The remission period is 1/4th of the sentence.
What provision is there for early release e.g. on parole?
Under Bangladesh “Probation of Offenders Ordinance” The system of parole does exist. However the
system is not functional due to lack of facilities and manpower.
What provision is there for clemency or pardon?
Mercy Power in the Constitution of Bangladesh Article 49 the Constitution confers mercy power on
the President.The President can exercise the power by a presidential Pardon i.e. to completely set
free the convict off his conviction.
What about any financial penalties?
There is no financial penalty for prisoners in Bangladesh. However if a prisoner is found guilty of
possessing cash other than their allocated amount, that cash will be confiscated by the prison
authority.
Is transfer to another prison within Bangladesh possible?
If you have been tried and convicted, you can apply for a prison transfer but the permission for
transfer depends upon the authorities.
Is transfer to the UK a possibility?
There are no agreements to transfer prisoners convicted in Bangladesh to serve their sentence in the
UK.
What are the procedures for release and deportation?
After a prisoner is granted bail by the court, the Court will send the bail bond to the prison authority.
The prison authority will verify the bail bond and the prisoner will be released after a satisfactory
verification. (applicable to Bangladeshi nationals)
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Additional Information
Bangladesh Prison
There are 68 prisons in Bangladesh which can be divided into two types. The Central Prisons, of
which there are 13, are for the confinement of prisoners under trial, administrative detainees and
convicted prisoners sentenced to a long term of imprisonment. These are essentially maximum
security prisons. The 55 other Prisons are used for the confinement of all categories of prisoners
except those convicted prisoners whose sentence exceeds 5 years. Under the orders of the Inspector
General of Prisons, longer-term prisoners may be confined in these prisons for special reasons,
however, they are essentially classified as “medium security”.
A number of new prisons are currently being built or planned. These include a major prison facility at
Gazipur which is being used. Previously, there were also a number of Thana prisons but these are no
longer functioning.
The official capacity of the 68 prisons is approximately 25,000, however the actual prison population
is around 72,000. Of these, almost 50,000 or 70% are under trial. There is another class of prisoners
known as ‘released prisoners’. These are foreigners who were arrested and convicted in Bangladesh,
and have served their sentences but are still in prison because they have nowhere to go.
Not only are the prisons grossly overcrowded, but the problem is exacerbated by the high number of
prisoners incarcerated because of delays in the judicial system. There is no effective classification
system in Bangladesh prisons and remanded and convicted persons are often not separated. The
conditions for women and juveniles held in detention require considerable improvement to ensure
appropriate levels of classification, security and humane confinement. Medical, rehabilitation and
vocational facilities are also inadequate.
Prisoners Abroad
Since 1978 the charity Prisoners Abroad has offered practical support and advice to British citizens
imprisoned overseas. It is the only UK charity providing this service and it is available to all, whether
guilty or innocent, convicted or on remand. Prisoners Abroad is concerned with your health and
welfare, both during your imprisonment and also on your return to the UK, through their resettlement
service (if you have registered whilst in prison). They can also provide support and advice to your
family during your imprisonment. In order to access any services, prisoners must first register with
Prisoners Abroad by signing and returning their authorisation form.
Once you seek help from Prisoners Abroad, the Prisoner & Family Support Service will be your point
of contact for advice and information. The type of assistance they can offer will vary from country to
country, but generally they can provide you with information, in English, on:
your rights as a prisoner and issues that may affect you such as health or transfer to the UK
obtaining magazines, newspapers, books and the regular Prisoners Abroad newsletter
writing to a pen pal
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learning the language of your country of imprisonment
translation of documents
grants for food if you are in a developing country and don’t have funds from other sources
grants for essential medicines and toiletries if you don’t have funds from other sources
preparing for release
help for your loved ones, including information, family support groups and assistance with the
cost of visiting
Prisoners Abroad
89 – 93 Fonthill Road
London N4 3JH
UK
Telephone: 00 44 (0)20 7561 6820 or, for your relatives in the UK, Freephone 0808 172 0098
(Mondays to Fridays 9.30 am to 4.30 pm, UK time)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.prisonersabroad.org.uk
mailto:[email protected]://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/
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Glossary of Terms
Key phrases – English into Bangla
English বাাংলা (Bengali)
Welcome স্বাগতম (shagotom)
Hello
(General greeting)
আসসালামু আলাইকুম (assalamualaikum)
স্লামাললকুম (slamalikum) - for Muslims
নমস্কার (nomoshkar) - for Hindus
Hello (on phone) হ্যাললা (hello)
How are you?
(তুই) ককমন আলিস? ((tui) kemon achhish?) v-inf sg
(কতারা) ককমন আলিস? ((tora) kemon achhish?) v-inf pl
(তুলম) ককমন আলিা? ((tumi) kemon achho?) inf sg
(কতামরা) ককমন আলিা? ((tomra) kemon achho?) inf pl
(আপলন) ককমন আলিন? ((apni) kemon achhen?) frm sg
(আপনারা) ককমন আলিন? ((apnara) kemon achhen?) frm pl
Reply to 'How are you?' আলম ভাললা আলি। (ami bhalo achhi) - sg
আমরা ভাললা আলি। (amra bhalo achhi) - pl
Long time no see অলনক লিন কিখা কনই। (onek din dekha nei)
What's your name?
কতার নাম লক? (tor nam ki?) - (v)inf
কতামার নাম লক? (tomar nam ki?) - inf
আপনার নাম লক? (apnar nam ki?) - frm
My name is ... আমার নাম ... (amar nam ...)
Where are you from? আপলন ককাথা কথলক আসলিন
(apni kotha theke ashchhen?)
I'm from ... আলম ... কথলক আসলি
(ami ... theke ashchhi)
Pleased to meet you আপনার সালথ পলরলিত হ্লে খুলি হ্লেলি৷
(apnar sathe paricita hoye khusi hoyechi)
Good morning সুপ্রভাত (shuprobhat) - frm
Good evening শুভ সন্ধ্যা। (shubho shondha)
http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/hello.htm
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(Evening greeting)
Good night শুভরাত্রি। (shubhoratri)
Goodbye
(Parting phrases)
আলস? (ashi?) lit. 'may I come?' = 'may I leave?'
ভাললা থাকলেন। (bhalo thakben) lit. 'stay well' - frm
ভাললা কথলকা। (bhalo theko) - inf
লেিাে লনত্রি। (bidae nicchhi) lit. 'I am bidding farewell'
কখািা হ্ালেজ। (khoda hafez) lit. 'the lord is the keeper' - used by Muslims
Good luck কসৌভাগয (soubhagya)
Cheers!
(Toasts used when drinking) জে ! (joe!) lit. 'Victory!'
Have a nice day শুভ লিন (su din)
Bon voyage /
Have a good journey শ্তভযািা (śhubho jātrā)
I understand আলম েুঝলত পারলি৷
(aami bujte paarchi)
I don't understand েুঝলত পালর লন। (bujhte pari ni)
েুঝলত পারলাম না। (bujhte parlam na)
Please speak more slowly আলে েললেন লক? (aste bolben ki?)
Please say that again আোর েলেলন লিজ (abar bobelon pliz)
Please write it down এটি একিু লললখ কিলেন? ([eṭi] ekṭu likhe deben?) - frm
Do you speak English? আপলন ইংলরত্রজ েললত পালরন? (apni Ingreji bolte paren?)
Do you speak Bengali? আপলন োংলা েললত পালরন?
(apni Bangla bolte paren?)
Yes, a little
(reply to 'Do you speak ...?')
ত্রজ, একিু েললত পালর।
(ji, ektu bolte pari)
How do you say ... in Bengali? এিালক োংলাে কী েলল? (etake banglae ki bole?)
এিার োংলা কী? (etar bangla ki?)
Excuse me শুনুন। (shunun)
এই কয। (ei je)
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How much is this? এই ত্রজলনসিার িাম কত? (ei jinishtar dam koto?)
Sorry িুুঃলখত (dukkhito)
মাে করলেন (maf korben)
Thank you ধনযোি (dhonnobad)
Where's the toilet? িেললিটি ককাথাে? (toylet ti kothay?)
This gentleman will pay for everything এই ভদ্রললাক সেলকিুর জনয িাকা কিলেন।
(ei bhodrolok shobkichhur jonno taka deben)
This lady will pay for everything এই ভদ্রমলহ্লা সেলকিুর জনয িাকা কিলেন।
(ei bhodromohila shôbkichhur jonno taka deben)
Get well soon লিগলগলর স্বাস্থ্য ভাললা কহ্াক। (shiggiri shastho bhalo hok)
Help! ো াঁিাও! (bachao!)
Fire! আগুন কললগলি! (agun legechhe!)
Stop! থামুন! (thamun!)
Call the police! পুললি ডাকুন! (pulish dakun!)
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Annexes
Annex 1: List of English-Speaking Lawyers
Annex 2: List of Private Translators/Interpreters
Annex 3: FCO Leaflet: In Prison Abroad
Annex 4: Prisoners Abroad Authorisation Form
Annex 5: Prisoners Abroad Family Contact Form
Annex 6: Craig Freehan Fund (CFF) Application Form
Annex 7: Fair Trials International questionnaire and leaflets
Annex 8: Reprieve Information
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bangladesh-list-of-lawyershttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bangladesh-list-of-translatorshttps://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/320638/Annex_3_-_FCO_Leaflet_-__In_Prison_Abroad.pdfhttps://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=4cd7012d-f55d-4e26-8e77-d4c83b90a847https://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=d5d65efe-779a-4aae-812b-45a365c01221https://www.prisonersabroad.org.uk/Handlers/Download.ashx?IDMF=1794432a-4441-47db-934a-57f7125e1a70https://www.fairtrials.org/wp-content/uploads/Arrested-in-Another-Country-Feb-20131.pdfhttp://www.reprieve.org.uk/about/
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Disclaimer
This booklet was compiled by the Consular Section, British High Commission, Dhaka. It is revised on
a regular basis.
If any of the information contained in this booklet is incorrect, please draw inaccuracies to our
attention so that we can make amendments.
The British High Commission in Dhaka is not accountable for the information provided in this booklet.
Local proceedings are subject to change at any time.
Thank you.
01 July 2019
