EDITORIAL
As many as 5,000 Bangladeshi workers are detained in foreign jails, as revealed in the parliament by the expatriate welfare minister. It's helpful that the government keeps track of them, but what concerns us the most is that there is no palpable action by the government to address the issue.
The data provided by the minister lacks specifics such as reasons for their arrests. Obviously, among those prisoners are some serious offenders, but understandably a vast number of them landed in jail because they wanted to stay beyond the expiry date stated in their work permit or visa, or because of other migration offences. In addition, some might be in jail simply because they couldn't afford or access sufficient legal assistance. Some others might have been caught while entering—or, being trafficked into—the host country illegally.
The expatriate workers often blame inaction of Bangladesh embassies in respective countries for many of their woes. Therefore, one of the first things that the government can do to help those stranded Bangladeshi workers is to instruct our embassies to provide them with consular assistance. Our diplomats must engage with foreign officials to ensure that our workers receive a fair chance to defend themselves in a court of law and, if possible, facilitate their release.
Bangladeshi workers stationed abroad have made an enormous contribution to our economy. They work extremely hard in foreign lands to change the lives of their families back home, channelling billions of dollars as remittance to the country, thus, keeping the economy rolling. Therefore, when they are in peril in an unknown territory, the government has an obligation to help them.
- Courtesy — The Daily Star/ Editorial/June 20, 2018
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