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Download PDF The irregular Bangladeshis without proof of identification in Kuwait will not be able to take advantage of the 45-day amnesty announced Sunday for illegals there.
Shahriar Kader Siddiky, labour counsellor of the Bangladesh embassy in Kuwait, yesterday said, “We can provide temporary travel documents for an illegal against copy of his passport, civil ID or bank card. But it’s not possible to do anything without those.”
The unscrupulous visa traders taking away passports or civil IDs from the migrant workers has become commonplace in many Middle Eastern countries.
They do it in collusion with employers to force the workers to toil for wages way less than what their job contracts pledge, according to labour watchdogs.
Like other Asian nations, Bangladesh welcomes the amnesty allowing the irregular foreigners to regularise their status or leave the country without fine, reported Arab Times Online yesterday.
Of around 2.5 lakh Bangladeshis in Kuwait, several thousands are believed to be illegals.
Siddiky said the Bangladesh embassy has started receiving applications seeking temporary travel documents. It has been deluged with calls from irregular Bangladeshi workers enquiring about the amnesty.
He added that the embassy is working to set up a counter for amnesty seekers. Besides, it will soon start leafleting labour camps, urging Bangladeshis to take advantage of the amnesty.
“Our representatives will visit various camps in efforts to convince the illegal Bangladeshi workers to avail themselves of the opportunity. Last year, the amnesty period coincided with the peak travel season and as a result many Bangladeshis could not use it.”
Embassies of other developing countries too have been busy dealing with the applications for temporary travel documents.
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