The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The Bangladesh Embassy in Bahrain is seeking to secure a compensation for the family of its national, who died at the Manama worksite accident recently, Gulf Daily News reported from Manama yesterday.

"It is unfortunate that Abul Kalam Malek Miah has died in the worksite accident," said Mohammed Ibrahim, First Secretary (Labour) of the Bangladesh Embassy, told journalists on Sunday in Manama the capital city of Bahrain.

"Out of the four injured, one was a Bangladeshi, Elias M Malek Miah, and we have learnt that he is Adul Kalam's brother," he said, adding, "Elias Miah has been discharged as his injuries were only minor."

Welfare Officer of the Embassy Abul Kashem visited the injured at the hospital on Sunday, Mohammadr Ibrahim added.

"We are in discussions with Abul Kalam's sponsor, who is the owner of the contracting company, about the repatriation of the body and compensation for the injured," he said.

"But the terms of the compensation depend on the type of contract the employees have with their sponsor."

Ibrahim accused the contracting company of not following safety measures.

"We have heard that the company was not following safety measures as required by the local law," he said.

"We hope that the Interior Ministry and Labour Ministry take up the matter seriously and ensure that such incidents don't happen in future."

Meanwhile, Indian Ambassador Balkrishna Shetty in Manama said he was saddened at the loss of a life, though no Indians had died but three were injured.

"I am sad about the loss of a life from an accident that was definitely avoidable," he said.

"We think there should be supervision and have come to understand that the contracting company was not meeting safety norms," the Indian Ambassador said.

"There is so much construction going on in Bahrain now, which calls for stricter implementation and supervision of safety norms," he observed.

Shetty visited the injured at the hospital with Second Secretary R Raghunath.