35 detained Bangladeshis in Texas end hunger strike

Bangladeshi asylum seekers have ended a near week-long hunger strike at the El Paso detention centre in Texas protesting their potential deportation.

They began to eat from Tuesday following negotiation between local Bangladesh mission and US’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Md Shamsul Alam Chowdhury, minister (consular) of the mission, led the negotiation that took place on Monday and Tuesday, a press release from Bangladesh embassy in Washington said.

A total of 35 Bangladeshis were among the 41 South Asian nationals detained in the El Paso centre. They were on hunger strike for six days.

Release of all the detainees being held at the detention centre will be released by November 15 upon fulfillment of some legal procedures, the press release said.

The conditions of their release were:

1. All the detainees must have some ID card/legal documents/passport duly authenticated by Bangladesh Embassy. It is said to be already under process and will be done by October 22.

2. Each detainee must have a credible sponsor. Most of the detainees provided the names of their sponsors and the Minister (Consular) managed some sponsors from the Bangladesh community leaders from different locations on the spot through telephone.  ICE will verify the status of the sponsors by October 23.

3. All detainees undergoing hunger strike must be physically fit before release.