Bangladesh News

At least 312 Bangladeshi workers returned from abroad yesterday due to various problems in the wake of the global economic meltdown.

Of them, around 90 came back from Malaysia, over 100 from Saudi Arabia and 122 from United Arab Emirates (UAE).

“Workers who returned from Malaysia today (yesterday) said they were not provided with jobs or their work permits were not renewed and wages not paid making their return obvious,” said an official at Zia International Airport (ZIA).

They came back with special travel pass.

Bangladesh mission in Kuala Lumpur gives special travel pass to workers having problems with employment and wages.

Returnees from Saudi Arabia either overstayed or were in jails, the official said.

Those who came back from the UAE said they had unemployment or underemployment problems but the situation was not so bad.

Workers returning this month from different countries including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Malaysia and Singapore totalled more than 4,000 until yesterday.

In February, the number of returnee workers stood at over 8,000, which was double that in January.

Meanwhile, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain yesterday sought cooperation of the Malaysian-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry to solve the problems of workers in Malaysia.

He made the request when a nine-member delegation of the chamber led by its Vice President Abdus Salam met the minister at his office.

The delegation said they would extend all cooperation in improving manpower export and trade relations between the two countries.

Earlier on March 10, Malaysia cancelled 55,000 work visas for Bangladeshis.

“We hope that the visa cancellation is temporary, and the problems will be solved soon,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Meanwhile, foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni and Khandaker Mosharraf will visit Malaysia on March 25 or 26.

Dipu Moni said yesterday the government will take every step necessary to resolve the problem. If needed, the prime minister will also visit Malaysia.

“We are looking into the issue comprehensively,” she told reporters after attending a language festival organised by ‘Aamra Bahanno Foundation’ and held at the Central Public Library in the capital.