Just bring them back from Iraq

Tears roll down the cheeks of sexagenarian Banesa Begum, whose son Badal Molla, along with 179 other Bangladeshi migrants, has been confined to a building in Najaf city of conflict-torn Iraq without adequate supplies for around seven months. Families of over 50 victims yesterday gathered at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital demanding quick repatriation of the workers. Photo: Rashed Shumon

In quest of a well-paid job, they left the country -- a son, a brother, father or husband to somebody here at home. But their lives are at risk in embattled Iraq. Now the least their relatives wish for is the safe return of their dear ones.  

The family members of 50 overseas jobseekers yesterday gathered at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital and urged the government to take measures immediately for the repatriation of the stranded Bangladeshis. 

The migrants are among the 180 people who went to Najaf of the Middle Eastern country in May to work at Abu Torab Housing Project owned by a Turkish employer. The project work could not even begin as the country saw clashes between different rebel groups intensify from the following month.

Since their employer left the site, they have been subsisting on limited food and water that their recruiting agency Career Overseas Consultants can arrange for them in a desert area in Najaf, said Rafiqul Islam, Murad Ahmed and Farid Uddin among the emigrants when contacted by The Daily Star over the phone. 

They, however, complained about the quality of food and lack of electricity at the place. 

Expressing anger over negligence of the government authorities concerned in making arrangements for their return, the family members sought the prime minister's intervention in bringing them back home before the Victory Day.

“I earnestly beg the prime minister for my son's life,” said Banowara Khatun, mother of Rubel Hossain, of Kushtia.

Relatives of the migrants spoke of their plight at the press conference organised by Rights Jessore and two other non-government organisations working for human rights.

Rights Jessore Executive Director Binoy Krishna Mollick read out a statement at the conference urging the government to ensure the migrants' safe return and compensation.

But the workers' safe return is their families' utmost concern.

“I don't want any money. I want my children to get their father back soon,” said Momota Mondol, wife of Doshorot Mondol, of Nawabganj in Dhaka.

Noted jurist Shahdeen Malik and migration expert and Dhaka University Prof CR Abrar expressed their solidarity with the relatives.

Some victims' families and Rights Jessore brought allegations of human trafficking and forced labour against the recruiting agency.

They also accused officials at the Bangladesh Embassy in Baghdad and the expatriates' welfare and overseas employment ministry of helping the agency in keeping the migrants there for long.

But the agency and the officials denied the allegations and said Rights Jessore and its chief had been provoking the migrants and their families to protest against the authorities concerned.

“Only some people want to return home while the majority will stay and wait for jobs. So, we are trying to arrange jobs for those who are interested in working there,” ABM Badrul Amin, managing director of the recruiting agency, told The Daily Star.

He admitted that the migrants were facing some problems in the unexpected situation but expressed his feelings of helplessness as the agency was not able to bear the costs of bringing back all the victims and arranging compensation.

He added that the agency had already arranged jobs for 63 workers at a construction company in Baghdad last month and the rest would be rehabilitated soon.

Bangladesh Ambassador Maj Gen Rezanur Rahman Khan acknowledged the agency's claim.