Seven hapless souls in Kyrgyzstan |
Last week,few migrant workers who are also victims of human trafficking held a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity. Two NGOs Refugee And Migratory Movement Research Unit and Rights Jashore organized the event. In that press conference, they revealed how they were tortured and lost everything in Kyrgyzstan. What is interesting they went there after obtaining permit from BMET and following all the legal procedures. Yet they fall into the hands of organized criminal groups1.
The members of the group reneged the terms of the contracts ,held them against their will , meted out tortures and grabbed extra money for their release. Many in the process lost their meagre resources and went bankrupt. Despite having all the valid documents, they were deceived and tortured. 7 Bangladeshis are still in captivity and going through the ordeals their freed colleagues endured all these months.
BMET permit,considered the hallmark of a qualified migrant worker,and procedures are bluntly abused by a bunch of goons.And it happened right before the govt eyes. It is an indication how organized criminal groups are operating at ease in this country.
Earlier in Italy,hundreds of Bangladeshis assembled before the embassy of Bangladesh in Rome. They are demanding new passports to the embassy2. Some 15000 Bangladeshis faced difficulties and other job related complications in Italy as they are not able to update their passports. Failure to get passport in time cast shadow over their jobs and status in Italy. These are real concerns that govt to take in cognizance are witnessing how negative growth of remittances in our traditional overseas markets led to 20% depreciation of Taka against US dollar.
More recently South African ministry of interior laid down that Bangladeshis and Pakistanis require transit VISA to enter Lesotho and Swaziland using South African airports. The decision came after some Bangladeshis and South Africans were detained by the customs and immigration for clandestinely using the South African airports.
In South Africa in the last 3 or 4 years 400 Bangladeshis ,most of them shop owners or assistants,lost their lives in gun violence. Govt did a routine job to send some officials to investigate about the matters.But it did not disclose the progress about the investigations. Rare are the occasions that Bangladeshis manage to know the result of such investigation.
If we take a look at the remittances inflow from top 10 countries we could easily see that there is a negative growth of 20.6% in Saudi Arabia during July-June of 2021-22 compared to a year ago. The growth in UK is 0.8% in the same period. In Italy,7th country in the list ,the growth is 30% and remittances sent by Bangladeshis working in Italy crossed the $ 1 billion mark3.
While remittances from Middle Eastern countries keep falling,those from Occidental countries continue to rise. The record current account deficit is an Eye-opener and reminds us that problems band challenges in our remittances earning sources should be addressed immediately.
Similarly, those mock the legitimate and safe procedure of sending workers abroad should be brought to book so that an example is made out of them and no one dares to make fun of the procedure.
And Bangladeshis ,no matter what social strata they represent,should be at the heart of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. Their woes,grieves,ordeals should be concerns of the concerned authority and no effort should be spared to address them while holding the head high. Our workers are abroad to make contribution at a competitive wage market. Protecting their interests should be the first objective of our missions as they are pursuing economic diplomacy diligently.
Notes And References:
- "Bideshe Shoitey Hoechhey Nirmomota,Fireo Boro Bipodey Tara(Tortures Abroad, Ordeals At Home)”,Daily Prothom Alo(P-3), August 17,2022
- “Bangladeshis Protest In Italy Demanding Age Correction In Passport, 2 Detained”,Star Digital Report,Daily Star,August 20,2022.For more read at https://www.thedailystar.net/nrb/news/bangladeshis-protest-italy-demanding-age-correction-passport-2-detained-3097011
- Bangladesh Bank
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