BACK FROM BAHRAIN: Bangladeshi laborers are in dire condition in Bahrain. Their dreams are shattered now after going there spending lakhs of money. They are passing cursed lives. However, in many cases they themselves are responsible for their sufferings.
Repressions at the workplaces are a regular feature while they are getting involved in several criminal offences. The huge money spent for going there are not coming back after working years together.
Recently the Bangladesh embassy in Bahrain has prepared a list of problems. The ambassador Major General KM Mominur Rahman and seasoned diplomat Mohidul Islam, labor councilor in the embassy, have prepared the problem list containing thirty categories.
The embassy is now insisting Bahrain’s departments concerned and the appointing controllers of the laborers to get the problems solved attaching the problem list.
The problems include each laborer is to spend about 4,000 to 5,000 dollars (TK 3 lakh to 4 lakh) for coming here. But after arrival the appointing authority is cancelling their visa. Even there are instances that when the workers have gone to visit own country their visa are being cancelled.
Many appointing authorities or agents are keeping the visa to their own custody though it is illegal. Many agents are fleeing away from Bahrain with their visa as a result the immigrant laborers do not possess any valid documents. 
Bringing the laborers in Bahrain, many appointing authorities are cancelling the visa after two or three months. So the laborers are becoming illegal.
After seizing their passports many appointing authorities are earning money. The laborers are not being paid salary and overtime money violating the contracts.
Showing the laborers as missing is a regular feature. When the appointing authority finds that his own company is not making profit he sends the laborer to elsewhere. He also submits reports against the laborers as illegal.
Alluring the workers to make him legal the appointing authority forces him to work without money. The unfortunate workers cannot take shelter of law as they are illegal. The incidents of without paying any money to the workers are increasing day by day. In some cases the illegal workers have to work at a stretch for 36 hours.
The disparity towards the Bangladeshi workers in terms of salary, overtime, accommodation, cook, shed and toilet facilities are serious. Though there is a system to change the appointing authority but the workers are not given that opportunity. The workers are forced to be deserted before making return of the spent money for immigrating in Bahrain.
The incidents of physical torture have increased recently to a maximum level. Recently, a worker of 60 years of age has been physically tortured.
The visa is not being renewed even after working here for ten years. Similarly they are being pushed back to own country without giving them salary.
In many cases, the Bangladeshi workers are not provided with medical care. Bringing false allegation of theft the worker is being deprived of his minimum wages. Sixty percent wage is being deducted for little mistakes.
In many factories, the workers are not given due leave facilities. After working for 3 to 4 months many workers leave the workplace without getting any wages. Many are forced to go back to country though his visa is still valid for one year or more.
Moreover, the Bangladeshi workers are facing serious injustice in Bahrain. Repression is increasing in the very system. The illegal workers are getting involved in unlawful activities, criminal offences and anti-social activities due to the frustration. The illegal workers mostly perform the risky jobs. As a result the death rate of the Bangladeshi workers is high in accidents.
Many migrant workers have no passport for a long time being stranded here. These workers probably have lost their kith and kin but are not in a position to return. Due to these uncertainties many have become mentally sick.
When the attention of the ambassador KM Mominur Rahman was drawn to the multifarious problems faced by the Bangladeshi workers, he told banglanews that here thousand of workers are being deprived. I talked to about 15,000 workers in last 5 months. I realized their problems.
He told that after much endeavor the problems have been identified. There was a time when I started my day with pains and tears of the workers and had gone to bed with similar pains and tears. Now, the situation has started changing.
Labour Councilor Mohidul Islam said that here the paper documents of Bangladeshi worker’s are required to be attested which is not applicable to the workers of the other countries.
Workers of 18 years old of other countries are permitted here while Bangladeshi workers need 25 years.
After bringing them in free visa they are set wide keeping passport locked. They are not given leave and health examination facility. On the other hand, they face police verification hassles.
Deputy Managing Director of Ahli United Bank Safkat Anowar said that Bangladeshi workers do not get any good job though they are coming here after spending huge amount of money. They are to work 3 to 5 years to collect their spent money. And those who become illegal their sorrows cannot be described.
Bangladesh Samaj president Fazlur Karim Bablu said that coming here with much aspiration many are put into rough waters. They are suffering from numerous problems.
MD of National Fish and Pacific group Mohammad Shafi Uddin said the problems of Bangladeshi workers are untold. The problems have gradually been becoming complicated. Measures should be taken to solve their problems.
BDST: 2103 HRS, FEB 10, 2015
