It was 23 July 2000, my colleague and I were in transit at KL airport on the way back from Johannesburg. I saw a group of Bangladeshis noticeably stressed and tired at the arrival lounge while I was waiting for my colleague who went to collect the hotel coupons and shuttle tickets. One from the group walked to me and asked if I am from Bangladesh and if I can give him a few ringgits as he was desperate to make a phone call to Bangladesh. I talked to him and came to know that they had been waiting for someone to pick them up since they had arrived at KL one day ago. Unfortunately, none showed up until then. They neither had money nor words beyond Bangla.

Undoubtedly, the same pathetic scene is recurring at the KL airport and at other airports in Singapore and the Middle East. It brings miseries for them and it is disgraceful for the whole nation. There is nothing wrong to admit that this is our problem, but who is to respond to this crisis? Why does it take days to solve this problem? It's hard to believe that none from KL immigration contacted Bangladesh embassy in Malaysia when hundreds of workers were stuck at the airport.

We should not forget the amount of remittance from manpower in foreign countries. The government should address this issue seriously and immediately to prevent such things happening in future. The Ministry of Labour and Manpower and the Department of Immigration jointly could arrange a two-day long pre-immigration workshop in a "Janashakti Raftani Camp" (manpower export camp) before their departure for the foreign countries. It could be similar to a Haji camp. The workshop could include legal ways of fund transfer, general practices of the destination countries, travel security, awareness about HIV and STD etc.

So far no government has done anything for the welfare of the workers while they are leaving the country or living abroad. Moreover, they are treated very badly in our foreign embassies-- something I observed several times. Sometimes they are cheated. The government must come up with appropriate and permanent measures for the welfare of the workers.