Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, president of the United Arab Emirates, has ordered a pardon for 57 Bangladeshi nationals jailed for holding a protest against their erstwhile government in the Gulf country, where demonstrations are banned.

They would be deported to Bangladesh soon, Dr Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser in Bangladesh’s interim government, disclosed in a meeting on Tuesday, according to the chief adviser’s press wing…

Discussions were now underway with the Bangladesh embassy in the UAE to determine the next steps for these individuals, he added.

An Emirati court had sentenced the 57 Bangladeshi expatriates to lengthy prison terms, state media reported on July 22.

The official Emirati news agency WAM said three Bangladeshi expatriates had been sentenced to life, 53 others to 10 years in prison and one to 11 years for participating in protests…

Bangladeshis form the third largest expatriate group in the UAE, after Pakistanis and Indians, according to the UAE foreign ministry.

The oil-rich Gulf state bans unauthorized protests and prohibits criticism of rulers or speech that is deemed to create or encourage social unrest.

Defamation, as well as verbal and written insults, whether published or made in private, are punishable by law…