The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Masum Billah

Though Bangladesh occupies the position in the list of poorest countries of the globe, it has some unique phenomena as a nation. Language movement, freedom fighting, enviable position of armed forces in the UN mission and fertile land are the unique examples Nature has ingeniously adorned and arranged the globe and global phenomena. Some parts boast of natural resources, some parts resources on land, some barren, some fertile and somewhere just citizens are technically important. To main the balance probably it has been done.

Bangladesh is overpopulated due to its geographical situation. Here manpower is a wealth. Many countries of the world need population. For want of population they cannot afford to do many things they want to do due to the lack of population. The overpopulated countries can send there manpower this message, disorder and irregularity follows. Many Bangladesh people live and work in many countries of the world in various capacities with much appreciation and success. Even, many invented and discovered many new things. Some, earned world acclamation. Whatever place they work in and whatever work they do, they deserve due honour and prestige first as Bangladeshis and then as human beings. Dishonoring and breaking human rights is tantamount to serous crimes.

The Kuwaiti government announced that it would deport Bangladeshi workers involved in violence during recent unrest over low pay. South Asian workers in Kuwait including hundreds of Bangladeshi staged demonstrations and went on strike on demanding better working standards and pay.Newspapers in the Gulf kingdom reported that some workers are paid as little as eight Kuwaiti dinars amounting to 2000 a month. Since the incidents of unrest, the Kuwaiti government said that it would increase the minimum workers salary to 40 diners or 10,300. However, Kuwaiti authorities announced they would examine video footage and photographs of protesting workers to find out those responsible for damaging vehicles and attacking police. Kuwaiti police arrested 800 Bangladeshi workers during demonstration of whom 300 were later released as no charges could be substantiated against them. Kuwaiti government assured Bangladeshi mission that all innocent workers will be spared after investigation.

This situation has not emerged suddenly. It is the result of long labour unrest which remained suppressed. A series of harrowing tales follow which are simply crimes against humanity. In some cases it was found that some workers were withdrawn from job without any reason or prior notice. They are kept idle for several months without salary or food. Workers who speak out their grievances are invariably victimized. The supervisors, foremen and managers abuse and beat them up with hands and if the matter is reported to the Arab bosses, they even kicked them. Vocal workers are victimized and deported with false cases. Though they were promised KD 50 but paid 18 a month.

Some of them are forced to work 16 hours a day without overtime payment while managers of a company beat up. Some workers for no reasons deduct 5KD per day if they fail to turn up due to illness.The company compels them to buy plane ticket from a certain travel agency which charges exorbitant fares. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, labour councilor in Kuwait embassy said, " Many workers could not go on leave over the last 8 or 10 years as the company didn't allow them. " even if a worker is granted leave for returning home, company charges KD30 as security money for getting passport deposited with it . But they never get back the money. Many workers are forced to sign job contacts that are different from they signed before their arrival.

Bangladesh Army has achieved international fame and acclamation. They are highly honored in different parts of the globe where they have got the opportunity to work as peace keeping forces. On the other hand, Bangladeshi workers have been seriously humiliated outside the country. They were given inhuman treatment which has once again let down the fame of this country. Our government must give due consideration to the facts that army, labour and garments are very flourishing and promising industry of this poor nation. All these three industries are fattening our national economy considerably. All these three industries must come within the purview of the government's top priority. What our Bangladeshi missions do abroad? Our missions cannot afford to sit like gentlemen wearing coat and tie and just do some routine work. Our poor country's ministers don't have time just to inaugurate and scissor the tapes to open and inaugurate a shop, an origination etc. in the same way our high officials of the foreign mission just do the routine work and enjoy government salary which they get at the sweet labour of these three industries.

Serious active, capable, innovative, courageous and patriotic people must be posted in the foreign missions. For the last two decades with some possible exceptions, these appointments were done purely on political ground. Every tier of the state machinery has been punctured and vitiated by nasty political games. We cannot expect any patriotic treatment from them for the country. It is a common allegation all over the world that Bangladeshi missions don't bother about what Bangladeshis do outside the country. Whenever, anybody falls in any problem, they hardly come forward with helping hands. This notion and attitude must be drastically changed. When Bangladeshi workers are humiliated and harassed by Kuwaiti police, how can Bangladesh mission sleep? Is this disgrace for a particular section of workers? These workers represent our dear motherland. Their disgrace means the disgrace for the whole nation. It always seems Bangladeshi missions have any headache with this matter. What kind of patriotic feeling they hold in their bosom?

Battered by employees and cheated by agents 45 Bangladeshi workers returned from Malaysia on August 11 after staying there over one year with bruises all over their bodies.The returnees spent over two lakhs taka each to get an overseas job. Bangladesh High Commission in Malaysia did not address their issues and they had to leave the dreamland with has now turned into a nightmare.

IMA Research Foundation at Dhaka organized a conference where many cheated workers expressed their bitter experiences in Malaysia. One said that he went to Malaysia in a group of 40 through Recruiting agency named Mark Overseas in July last year and was employed in a plastic company in Kelang at monthly RM700. "We were told that we would work 12 hours a day but we had to work 18-20 hours. In case of any single mistakes, the Chinese boss would beat us up".

The workers were given work target and if anyone failed to fulfill the target the boss used to hit them hard. 15 workers fled the company in less than a month as they could no longer endure the torture."We told our agent Kamal of Vital Manpower in Malaysia that we could not tolerate the tortures anymore. After two months he withdrew us and assured of arranging alternative job. But Kamal took them to a hotel and he himself disappeared. These kind of incidents and events are taking place continuously but the response of Bangladeshi mission registers very very poor. Instead of addressing the human rights abuse issue that has been going on for years in the emerging economically developed countries. They don't bother about conducive working atmosphere and the welfare of the workers, rather they pounce on the workers on time and occasions treating them just like slaves.

By virtue of petro-dollar the Middle Eastern countries imported workers from third world countries in 1970s and 80s and would pay them comparatively handsome salaries. Now their development works have almost been finished. The demand of labours has decreased. To meet the increasing demand of manpower in those countries, in the private sector many recruiting agencies have sprung up. Very weak government controlling system and the corrupt officials have made avenues for exercising illegal and unpalatable ways and rules. The victims are the workers who sell their cultivable land to procure the necessary amount.

Both Foreign Welfare Ministry and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs work in very close cooperation to retain the interest of expatriate workers. They must have regular meeting with the employees of foreign companies, recruiting agencies working in Bangladesh, their branches aboard and the foreign companies where these people work. They must have regular meeting and sharing sessions with the workers to boost up their morality.

They remain away from their near and dear ones, when Bangladeshi mission officials will talk to them, definitely they feel invigorated. All the rules and regulation must be well known to them and they must publish these in national dailies and in all news media so that the common people know the picture of work abroad. Now what happens, our mission and labour unit actually does not know where, how and when our workers are sent aboard, where they work, in what situation they work They must shoulder huge responsibility when they are in foreign mission.