Pressure mounting on govt to bring back illegal Bangladeshis

The government is facing pressure from some countries to repatriate undocumented or irregular Bangladeshi nationals amid the deepening Covid-19 pandemic.

According to Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen, more than 3,000 undocumented Bangladeshis were sent back from different countries in the last few weeks. At least 30,000 more expatriates will return home in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, sources said more than two lakh undocumented Bangladeshis may face deportation in a short period of time.

The government is facing pressure from the host governments to bring them back by special flights, although air transport is closed in many countries.

Most of the expatriates who have returned recently were in jail in different countries.

On April 15 this year, 366 Bangladeshis reached Dhaka from Saudi Arabia by a special chartered flight of the Saudia Airlines. Among them, nearly 200 were in Saudi prisons, while 132 were stranded Umrah pilgrims, and the rest of them were undocumented workers.

Nine days later, 288 expatriate Bangladeshis returned from Oman by a special flight. These deportees were also in jail.

On April 27 and 28, 247 persons returned from Kuwait by two separate flights. They came out from jail enjoying a general amnesty. According to sources, around 5,000 more Bangladeshis are in camps, waiting to return home.

The number of foreign returnees is increasing every day. However, considering the relations that Dhaka maintains with the host countries and the steps that are being taken to bolster ties with them, Bangladesh government thinks it will not be in a big trouble. 

Currently, many undocumented Bangladeshi workers have become jobless in different countries due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They are in serious crisis as they do not have any source of income. The host countries are also facing problems supporting these people. 

According to the sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment, at present the government is very much concerned about undocumented expatriate Bangladeshis who need to be brought back on an emergency basis.

In the last one month, government officials held five inter-ministerial meetings with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment and some other related ministries and discussed the issues related to the expatriate Bangladeshis.

In these meetings, top officials of these ministries went through all points regarding demands of some countries which want to send back undocumented Bangladeshi expatriates.

Among these countries Kuwait is on the top. Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the Maldives are also putting pressure on the Bangladesh government to evacuate its citizens.

According to sources, there is also pressure from Singapore, Korea and some other countries regarding the undocumented Bangladeshi nationals in those countries.

In April, Kuwait declared a general amnesty for the undocumented workers staying there. The country is sending them back assuring them that they have a chance of getting Kuwaiti visa in future if they take this opportunity of general amnesty. Otherwise they will be blacklisted and face legal consequences. 

The Kuwait government has also taken a firm stand against the undocumented people who did not avail the general amnesty and the countries which are trying to delay the process of taking back their citizens. 

According to an Arab Times report, Kuwait parliament member Al Kandari on May 4 said he would submit a proposal to initiate a law stipulating the suspension of bilateral agreements and stopping the development fund payment to countries which are refusing to take back their citizens from Kuwait.

Foreign Minister Momen admitted that the government has to bring back its citizens from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Lebanon, Qatar and Maldives. A large number of Bangladeshis, who lost their jobs in Iraq, are also needed to be brought back.

Regarding Bangladeshis who are now in camps in Kuwait, the foreign minister said, "We will bring them back whenever Kuwait wants. They said they will arrange flights to send these people back. That is why we are waiting for them. If they can't arrange that, we will bring them."

The foreign minister also said, "We have requested the countries to keep our citizens until the pandemic situation normalizes. We have also requested them not to sack any worker in the next six months.''

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam told The Business Standard, "Now the whole world is facing the same situation. If a host country takes any decision regarding the irregular expatriates, we will respect their stand. We will avail the option they provide."

The state minister also said, "Bangladesh and the host countries have mature relations. We will be able to solve all issues bilaterally." 

Similarly, the Bangladesh government is trying to resolve the issues through diplomatic pressure over those countries. The foreign minister has been continuously trying to persuade the governments concerned bilaterally or requesting some influential countries to persuade them on behalf of the Bangladeshi expatriates.

The government has also taken some steps for the expatriates who are returning to the country. The foreign minister said the ministry of expatriates welfare has created a fund of Tk200 crore for the returnee migrants.

"Every returnee will get Tk5,000 on arrival at the airport as conveyance. The families of migrant workers who have died from the novel coronavirus will be provided with Tk3 lakh each. To engage returnees in employment, the government will give them up to Tk5-7 lakh in loans," said the foreign minister.