Dubai: A court in the United Arab Emirates has sentenced dozens of Bangladeshis to imprisonment for protesting against their country’s government here. Three of them have been sentenced to life imprisonment. Government media gave this news on Monday. According to the news of the government news agency WAM here, 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 expulsion of these Bangladeshis from the country after completion of the sentence.

Procession taken out on the streets

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. Forming political parties or trade unions is prohibited in the UAE and the law largely restricts freedom of expression.

Protests also took place in the UAE
The Bangladesh government had made a provision of reservation of up to 30 percent in government jobs for the relatives of the members of the Mukti Bahini in the 1971 Liberation War, against which there were protests in the UAE after several days of violent protests in the South Asian country. The Supreme Court of Bangladesh on Sunday reduced the reservation limit to seven percent. This decision of the Supreme Court is being considered a partial victory for the protesters.