Extradition of Bangladeshi workers from Saudi Arabia continues
The total number of workers coming back from the country stands at 317 in last three days
As many as 176 Bangladeshi workers, including 15 women, have returned from Saudi Arabia from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon— rising the total to 317 in last three days.
On Saturday night, two flights of Saudi Airlines brought 106 workers to Bangladesh. Later, 70 more workers returned on Sunday afternoon, prompting the fear of extradition of many.
Non-governmental organisation Brac's Migration Programme provided the returnees with foods and emergency assistance on their way home from the airport.
Selina Akter and Shamima Begum, two female workers from Brahmanbaria, went to Saudi Arabia as domestic helps. After being tortured by the employers, they fled their workplace and took shelter in Bangladesh Embassy's safe home in Jeddah.
Sonia Atker and Khadiza from Narayanganj and Rasheda from Sirajganj shared a similar story.
Apart from the persecution of the women workers, the country continued crackdown against the illegal migrants.
One of the returnees Shahid Mia, 40, said he spent Tk4.50 lakh to go to Saudi Arabia two and a half years ago. He was caught while returning from work and sent back to Bangladesh.
Four months back, Hanif from Chandina upazila of Cumilla went to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi employer did not renew his work permit when his visa expired. Police detained him on his way back to home from work and sent him back to Bangladesh as Hanif's employer denied to take any responsibility.
Many of the returnees complained that the employers did not renew work permits even after being paid for these. They did not take any responsibility when police arrestede them. Rather in several cases, they asked police to send the workers back to their home countries.
Shariful Hasan, head of Brac Migration Programme, said a total of 28,281 Bangladeshi workers were sent back to the country in the last year and 317 workers returned so far this year.
The incidents of persecution will decrease in the Middle Eastern country if the measures the government has taken up are implemented, Shariful added.
