Dhaka, July 2 (IANS) At least 53 Indian nationals held on various charges, including smuggling and trespassing, have been released from a jail in Bangladesh, a media report said.

The jail in Satkhira district, on the border with India’s West Bengal state, released the prisoners Thursday, the Daily Star reported.

Jail superintendent Nurannabi Bhuiyan said the Indians were freed following a district court order after a case was filed recently challenging their detention.

The Indian nationals were held 11-12 years ago from Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Khagrachhari, Meherpur, Chuadanga, Satkhira and Jessore districts on charges of smuggling, intrusion and involvement in various criminal activities, the daily said.

Though they had been sentenced to different terms of imprisonment, most of them spent 7-8 more years in prison after expiry of their terms as they could not be released due to legal complexities, the prison official said.

All the former prisoners have left for India, he added.