DHAKA, June 13: A total of 5,417 foreigners are detained in Bangladesh, while 5585 Bangladeshis are languishing in prisons of 38 countries. This was announced at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Prison Reform on Saturday.

The government of Bangladesh has provided legal aid to some 200 foreign prisoners since early last year. Subsequently, 151 foreigners have been released so far, a highly placed source in the ministry of home affairs said.

The committee decided to provide legal aid to the foreign prisoners. It also called upon the country's foreign ministry to direct Bangladesh missions abroad to lobby for legal aid for the Bangladeshis languishing in foreign prisons, particularly in countries whose nationals are getting legal aid in Bangladesh.