Souls In Distress

Seven hapless souls in Kyrgyzstan Suffers in hands of satan. To protect the souls spartan Is Foreign ministry's top concern.

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:

1. "Bideshe Shoitey Hoechhey Nirmomota,Fireo Boro Bipodey Tara(Tortures Abroad, Ordeals At Home)”,Daily Prothom Alo(P-3), August 17,2022
2. “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
3. Bangladesh Bank

Another Tragedy Mocks Progress

Seven hapless souls perished in the sea,
Mocking the much trumpeted development story.

Another tragedy struck off the Italian coast. And 7 Bangladeshis froze to death in that tragedy. 280 illegal immigrants including 7 Bangladeshis tried to cross the Mediterranean by boat to reach their dream destination, Europe. In the middle of that fateful journey, 3 perished because of extreme cold while 4 more later died in hospital after they had been rescued by Italian coast guard¹.

The tragedy took place at a moment when government is boasting its economic indicators. This tragedy belies the much trumpeted success stories. Meanwhile, Henley And Partners two weeks ago in its passport index raised the rank of Bangladesh passport by 5 notches. This tragedy laid bare the ground reality and ridiculed the improvement made in passport ranking.

Perilous boat ride by Bangladeshis in the Mediterranean has been going on for a long time. I penned several pieces on this. Unfortunately little progress has been made and govt did little to stem the flow. Last year,a boat capsize off the Tunisian coast killed 17 Bangladeshis¹.

Tragedies after tragedies struck on foreign shores,but we seldom see local culprits are brought to book and justice is delivered to victims. There were reports of detaining few lower rank criminals ,but hardly any big criminal or public official was sentenced.Meanwhile, foreign governments were quick to take actions in such crimes. Recently, A US court sentenced a Bangladeshi-American to several years of imprisonment after he had been found running a human trafficking network in the Mexico-American border².A Kuwaiti court sentenced a Bangladeshi MP and some high-level Kuwaiti officials to 7-year of imprisonment in similar charges. After the MP had been found guilty, Bangladeshi Parliament revoked his position³. Long ago a Thai Court sentenced a General to 14-year of imprisonment after he had taken party in human trafficking operations through Thai-Malaysian jungles. Many unknown mass graves of hapless migrants were found there. Even then no high-profile Bangladeshi public official was tried by the government back then. This is the keenness and commitment shown by Bangladesh in human trafficking incidents.

Back in the 70s Bangladeshis went to Libya to build road network, apartment complex and utility network. Now 40 years later, they flocked to Libyan shores to take a risky boat ride to reach the Italian coast and made news items on foreign press. Recurrence of such tragedies exposes the flaws in our development story and seriously calls into question strength of our economy.

Notes And References:

1 “Bhumodhosagore Thandae Jomey Pran Gelo 7 Bangladeshir(7 Bangladeshis Froze To Death in The Mediterranean)”(Page-1),Daily Prothom Alo,January 26,2022

2 “US Jails Bangladeshi Man For Human Trafficking Charges”,bdnews24.com,October 01,2021. For more read https://m.bdnews24.com/en/detail/bangladesh/1846532

3 “Kuwaiti Court Jails Ex-Bangladeshi MP To 7 Years For Human Trafficking “,Ramadan Al Sherbini,Gulf News,November 28,2021. For more read https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/kuwait/kuwaiti-court-jails-ex-bangladeshi-mp-to-7-years-for-human-trafficking-1.84019786

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(21 janvier --- 28 janvier)

Selon un reportage,7 Bangladais sont morts de froid quand ils avaient tenté de traverser la Méditerranée.

Selon un reportage, Transparency International a placé Bangladesh 147ème parmi 180 pays dans son indice de corruption pour 2021.

Selon un reportage, 9 zèbres sont morts mystérieusement dans un parc de Bangladesh.

Eroding Trust,Diminishing Sympathy

From Thai jungles to the Mediterranean sea,
Govt plays deaf to fortune seekers plea.
As inaction causes trouble on foreign shore,
Sympathy for the country is no more.

According to a news report European Union is going to introduce harshest visa policy temporarily for Bangladesh as it failed to deal with illegal Bangladeshis stranded across European countries.Back in 2017,Bangladesh signed an agreement with EU to bring back the illegal Bangladeshi emigrants. As the country failed to live up to its pledges, EU is considering to make harder obtaining the Schengen visa,curbing multiple visa facility, prolong the procedure of getting visa and impose tariff on visas for Bangladeshi diplomats.¹

In the past I wrote a number of pieces---”Need For A William “,”Governance Crisis: From Local Alleys To Foreign Shores”,”Perilous Plight Of Modern Day Vikings”,”A Loosing Scheme”---on human trafficking from Bangladesh and conditions of trapped Bangladeshis abroad. I share some of the nuggets of old pieces here.

In recent years, Bangladeshis topped the list of boat-riding asylum seekers. According to European Union, 93435 Bangladeshis are staying illegally in European countries. Bangladesh strongly contested the figure. According to Ministry of Interior, Italy, 8131 Bangladeshis entered illegally in 2016 and in the first six months of 2017, 8436 Bangladeshis were identified as illegal emigrant^{2 & 3}.

A survey by IOM reveals that on average illegal Bangladeshis paid more than $5,000 to human traffickers to reach Italy taking a perilous boat ride. Dubai-Istanbul-Tripoli turned out to be their preferred route to reach Libya.Traffickers locked them in Libya for one year and forced them to work in homes and restaurants.³

More recently, Tunisian coast guard rescued 443 Bangladeshis from the Mediterranean sea between May 18 and June 10 of this year⁴.

Back in 2018,in USA, Texas news papers were carrying reports how everyday Texas border patrol nabbed illegal Bangladeshis while crossing the Rio Grande river. Casting serious doubts over Bangladesh’s trumpeting of its economic achievements.⁵

Recent addition to human trafficking incident was a Bangladeshi MP who was sentenced to 4 years of imprisonment by a Kuwaiti court for human trafficking and money laundering. Not only that many high ranking Kuwaiti officials were also found guilty in such incidents. This insinuates how far and wide such trafficking racket is stretched⁶.

But such mass human trafficking through sea all started in 2014. UNHCR in a report revealed that 25000 Bangladeshis embarked on illegal and risky boat ride to reach Malaysia in the first quarter of 2015. And 5400 illegal fortune seekers were detained in various prisons of the countries bin Asia and Pacific region⁷.

Discovery of mass graves of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Thai-Malaysian jungles and sentence of a Thai General did little to beef-up Bangladeshi efforts to curb the incidence of trafficking.

Sending people abroad is a lucrative trade and government recognizes the industry as “man power business”. There is even a ministry to look after the well beings of the expatriates .

Since it is an industry, all sorts of practices, fair and unfair, are going on here no holds barred. People are so desperate to go to their dream destinations , they are even ready to pay more than the required cost. They are poised to work under harsh conditions and to embrace any situation to make their fortune abroad.

A parasitic class was born out of their desire and desperation. This class exploits the vulnerabilities of would-be foreign workers and share the rents with the corrupt politicians and officials.

Inhumane sufferings of the migrant workers are often ignored as long as remittances are kept coming. Unlike the workers from other countries, the Bangladeshi workers do not find their govt on their sides when they are in trouble in foreign soils.

When a govt evades its responsibility about its own citizens, other countries are less interested to take their responsibility, particularly when the country is not paralyzed by problems.

Govt of Bangladesh is guilty of two counts: first, it allows a modern day slave trade in its soil ; second, it disowns its own citizens when they are in distress³.

As tragedy after tragedy strikes on foreign shore,govt, being guardian and protector of the have-nots, has failed to stop human trafficking.Turning a blind eye to such crime only unfolds bigger catastrophe. Other responsible govts will not sit idle when sheer size of the problem causes unease at their countries. Bilateral relations may survive the twists and turns but sympathy towards Bangladesh may diminish. Suggestion for tougher EU visa policy for Bangladeshis is an indication to that direction.

Notes And References:

1 “Bangladeshider Visae Korakorir Suparish(Harsher Visa Restrictions Suggested On Bangladesh) “,Raheed Ejaj,Daily Prothom Alo,August 27,2021.

2 “Bangladesh Under Threat On EU Visa Restrictions “,Dhaka Tribune,June 25,2017.Link here

3 “Need For A William “,Rezaul Hoque,https://rezaulhoque.wordpress.com,July 31,2021Link here

4 “La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux(11 juin --- 18 juin)”,Rezaul Hoque,https://hoquestake.blogspot.com/

5 “Governance Crisis: From Local Alleys To Foreign Shores”,Rezaul Hoque,https://rezaulhoque.wordpress.com,January 16,2019,Link here

6 “Kuwait: Bangladeshi MP Gets 4 Years In Jail,Fined KD1.9 M For Human Trafficking”,Ramadan Al Sherbini,Gulf News, January 19,2021.Link here

7 “Cries In The Wood”,Rezaul Hoque,https://rezaulhoque.wordpnress.com/,May 14,2015.Link here

La Semaine Dernière A Mes Yeux

(07 octobre --- 14 octobre)

Selon un reportage, des ouvriers bangladais qui travaillaient en Italie et au Qarar se sont manifestés devant les ambassades de ces pays à Dacca. Comme les deux pays ont interdit les ouvriers qui passent vacances dans leurs pays d'origine à cause de Covid-19, ils se sont retrouvés coincés au Bangladesh.

Selon un reportage, le conseil des ministres a donné son aval à la proposition de la peine de mort contre viol après une série de manifestations contre viol a bouleversé le pays.

Selon un reportage, une fusillade à Naniarchar , Rangamati a laissé morts deux membres d'un groupe indigène. L'armée de la terre s'est dite que son équipe était tombée dans une embuscade et elle avait répliqué avec fusillade.

Selon un reportage, Bangladesh est classé le neuvième parmi les pays sinistrés par un rapport baptisé «The Humain Cost Of Disaster: An Overview Of The Last Twenty Years 2000-2019». Le bureau de sinistre de l'ONU et CRED qui se situe en Belge ont fait le rapport.

Selon un reportage, un auto rickshawwallah, conducteur de rickshaw motorisé, est mort bizarrement dans l'état d'arrestation à la gendarmerie de Nawabpur. Ses proches soupçonnent il a été tué pendant interpellation. Police l'a appréhendé pour interroger son lien dans une tuerie. Police leur a dit qu'il s'est suicidé.

Selon un reportage, un tribunal de cybercriminalité a condamné une personne minoritaire à sept ans de prison pour avoir publié commentaire diffamatoire contre le Prophète.

Governance Crisis: From Local Alleys To Foreign Shores

As Dhaka has fallen to the angry RMG workers, daily commuters feel the full brunt of it. Workers longing for a scheduled pay rise in the new year feel deceived when some workers at different grades saw their wage did not rise as much as that of their coworkers.

They fretted over the discrimination and occupied the streets when no measures were seen to redress their grievances. In the industrial zone of Ashulia, skirmishes between workers and owners have been going on since December.

The new wage increase has come into effect from first January. Having counted the salary, many realized the bosses, some of whom made into the parliament, reneged on agreed promises. In some factories, salaries are  due for months. The feeling of deception culminated into an angry protest that managed to block several key roads in the garments quarters of Dhaka.

The bosses wriggled out responsibilities by pointing finger to vested interest group. They are preoccupied with the thought that someone is constantly hatching troubles to kill the golden goose of Bangladesh economy. Quite oblivious to the fact that vested quarters will stir trouble if there is anger and grievances among certain section of the population.

What rubbed salt to blue collars' injuries is absence of their representation in the parliament. Meanwhile, many of the RMG bosses again became MPs with brief stint into politics or having no ties to politics at all. A particular section of a crucial industry has given a bigger role in policy making while the others remain cornered.

Earlier veteran left leaders   were called on to join the cabinet. It was assumed that these former rabble rousers would take care of the workers ' interests in policy making table.

This time in the new cabinet many of them were shown the exit door. In the election, the left alliance also suffered a crushing defeat. The alliance blamed the ruling party for unprecedented irregularities.

Net result is that  the voice of the voiceless across the  aisle has become feeble in the new parliament.

To me, it is a governance issue. It could have been dealt differently. It is no secret that in this time of the year we usually witness workers' unrest . Government did not take measures to abate those recurring tensions.

Despite its assurances, its words translate into action with significant delays that could do great harm in its efforts to trust building measures across different social groups.

Bringing on board a section of a crucial industry, it effaces the thin red line between  regulator and boss. Problems are there to be solved, so are the tensions.

The crisis of governance is writ large on domestic roads and foreign shores.
On the new year's eve, Sri Lankan Police detained 5 Bangladeshis and seized a huge quantity of heroin and cocaine. It was Sri Lanka's biggest seizure of narcotics. From press reports, Bangladeshis were running the drug racket in Colombo. One of the members made frequent trips there misusing the on arrival visa opportunity.

Later last week a Philippine bank sentenced a Bank manager to 32-56 years of imprisonment for having links in Bangladesh  Bank heist that jolted the whole financial world and laid bare vulnerability of online financial  payment systems. Bangladesh has yet to conclude its investigation, but the incident has left a serious question mark on its financial institutions, which are still reeling from widespread corruption.

Earlier a Thai serving General was sentenced to life imprisonment after he had been found involved in human trafficking that caused deaths of hapless Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. However, not a single Bangladeshi was identified or tried for having links in human trafficking via sea.

In USA, Texas news papers were carrying reports how everyday Texas border patrol nabbed illegal Bangladeshis while crossing the Rio Grande river. Casting serious doubts over Bangladesh's trumpeting of its economic achievements.

In Italy, Bangladeshis topped the list  of boat-riding asylum seekers, many of whom fleeing war back home. Situation in Bangladesh was not as dire as in those war-torn countries. Why did so many Bangladeshis take such a perilous boat ride?

Others will also search answer to question like why Bangladesh is failing to curb drugs.

Throwing the garbage over neighbor's roof or backyard does not prove one's smartness in dealing with the garbage. Rather, its discovery could jeopardize the relationship with the neighbor and lead to untoward outcome.

Maybe ruling class does not care about the feelings of Bangladeshis in tackling with governance issues. But when these issues cause trouble on foreign shores, others will react. Bilateral relations may survive the twists and turns , but sympathy towards Bangladesh is likely to take a hit. In tackling with the Rohingya crisis, Bangladesh is gradually realizing this harsh truth.

And the ongoing RMG crisis is just another reminder that ruling class should put the house in order.