A former worker at a March restaurant – detained during a Home Office immigration raid- says he fears for his life if deported back to Bangladesh.

“I have exceptional circumstances for which I am unable to return home right now due to safety issues,” he told me from the Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre where he is being held.

Al Amin, 27, doesn’t deny overstaying and working in this country after coming here in 2009 on a student visa but believes he could be jailed – or worse- if sent home.

“I am an atheist, secularist, free thinker and involved in activities through social media to break the radical religious taboo,” he said.

“In Bangladesh it isn’t considered normal.”

Mr Amin was one of four workers at the Spice Bank who were detained following the Home Office enforcement action.

Last week the restaurant owners claimed the paperwork for all four had been found to be in order and all had been released. The restaurant claimed possible £20,000 fines for wrongfully employing staff had lifted.

Mr Amin said that in his home country his personal way of life and outlook “isn’t considered normal as the Information Communication and Technology Act criminalises such actions and it’s a state offence to do or say or write so in a pubic forum. My life will be at risk”.

He said: “I have claimed for asylum or humanitarian protection in the UK but unfortunately my claim has been refused.”

His appeal will be heard on December 21 “when a judge will decide my fate.”

He said: “While in the UK I have not done anything that goes against this country. I was no burden to the society and I am no harm or threat to the public.

“I have studied here and I have contributed to the economy.”

Mr Amin said: “This detention is completely unlawful because there is no such timescale how long a person can be detained for no reason or no offence.

“And because of this I have ended up with severe depression and many physical illnesses.

“I took complete responsibility for my failure of compliance and I have apologised sincerely again and again and begged for mercy and one chance to provide supportive evidence for my claim.

“But the Home Office has not been given any consideration of my situation or nothing has been taken into account by them.”

He said that during the seven and half years he lived and worked in March “everyone adored me for my decency, politeness and good behaviour.

“I was a young joyful male known to many locals.

“But now I have fallen apart and I am totally broke. Life has never been very kind to me but it was not that cruel either before.”

He said his condition had worsened because “my family and friends have severed ties with me and left me abandoned because of my exceptional opinion and believes.

“I have nobody here to provide me with a little support. I have nobody to come to the court as a witness; I am all alone.”

Documents served on Mr Amin by the Home Office insist the reason he was not freed pending the hearing was their belief he would fail to turn up.

MP Steve Barclay has written to the Home Office outlining Mr Amin’s fear of repercussions if he is sent home.

Mr Barclay pointed out the Government’s concern over increased attacks on minority groups in Bangladesh and Mr Amin’s claims of being ostracised by his family