Failed to reach Malaysia: Aspirant migrant workers stage demo in Karwan Bazar, take position in front of expat ministry
The workers, part of a group of 18,000 who missed the 31 May deadline last year, set by Malaysian authorities, blamed recruiting agencies and authorities for failing to provide air tickets
Highlights
- About 150 migrant workers protested in Karwan Bazar, demanding job placements in Malaysia
- Their demands include sending all stranded workers by 20 February 2024
- Protesters vowing to continue until an interim government adviser provides assurances
Hundreds of aspiring migrant workers, unable to secure flights to Malaysia, staged a sit-in protest at the SAARC Circle in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, this morning (22 January), demanding their promised jobs in the country.
They then took position in front of the Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry in Dhaka's Eskaton area
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The workers, part of a group of 18,000 who missed the 31 May deadline last year, set by Malaysian authorities, blamed recruiting agencies and authorities for failing to provide air tickets.
"The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare assured us of our jobs in Malaysia as we have already paid the agencies. However, we have not seen any progress," protester Main Uddin Babu told The Business Standard.
Approximately 150 protesters gathered at 9am, halting traffic between Karwan Bazar and the Panthapath intersection.
Their demands include sending all stranded workers, whether due to syndication or delays, by 20 February.
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The protesters emphasised that all affected workers, including those who paid recruitment fees up to 5/6 lakhs but have yet to receive manpower approval, must be sent.
They also called for forming a remittance foundation for expatriates.
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At 11:10am, police cleared the SAARC Circle blockade, prompting protesters to move to a nearby footpath near Sonargaon Hotel where they continued their protest.
They vowed to continue the blockade until an interim government adviser met them with assurance.
The protesting migrant workers moved and marched through Shahbag to Probashy Kallyan Bhaban in Eskaton at around 12pm, demanding a meeting with Expatriates' Welfare Adviser Asif Nazrul.
"We will continue the blockade until we get an opportunity to meet him," said one of the protesters.
According to the Expatriates' Welfare Ministry, around 17,000 workers missed the May deadline last year due to agencies failing to provide tickets.
"Approximately 2,500 workers filed complaints and have been compensated by the agencies," said Ali Haider Chowdhury, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA).
However, the number of workers still waiting to migrate remains unclear.
Ruhul Amin, secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment did not respond over the phone regarding the issue.
Despite Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's promise last October to consider these workers, no progress has been made.
