Bangladesh

Forums form human chain, demand harassment-free immigration Harassment-Free Immigration
Collected Human chain organised by Bangladesh Migrant Workers Forum in front of National Press Club on Friday

Forums form human chain, demand harassment-free immigration

Bangladesh Live News | @banglalivenews | 16 Jan 2021, 08:14 pm

Dhaka, January 16: Human chains and rallies have been held to ensure safe and harassment-free migration. The demand was made by a human chain organized by Bangladesh Migrant Workers Forum and Bangladesh Migrant Women Workers Association in front of the National Press Club on Friday.

During the event, speakers requested the government to provide free coronavirus test and quick certificate to migrant workers.

Speakers at the human chain said that lakhs of workers from abroad have returned to the country empty-handed due to the coronavirus pandemic. These helpless workers are living a dehumanised life as they do not get any help from the government. Many workers are fleeing in debt. However, the expatriate welfare fund has accumulated crores of rupees earned by these workers.

"There is a bank called Expatriate Welfare. This bank did not come forward to help the expatriate workers," the speakers said.

They also said that the bank was delaying the rehabilitation of the migrant workers on various pretexts. Although communication has been established with some countries recently, the returning workers are not able to go there. Because many of their visas have expired or their work orders have expired.

"We have repeatedly appealed to the government, hoping that the government will take the necessary steps to address the crisis of these helpless workers."

Speakers complained that although the government has set a fee to get the corona vaccine certificate, in many cases this order is not being obeyed. In many cases, the government is charging extra fees. This has created a dead end in the lives of migrant workers.

Labor leader Abul Hossain addressed the human chain as the chief guest under the chairmanship of Sabina Chowdhury, president of Bangladesh Migrant Workers Forum.

Among others, President of Bangladesh Migrant Women Workers Association Lily Jahan, General Secretary Sheikh Rumana, Vice President Neela Mallick, Ferdousi Begum, Organizing Secretary Shiuli Akter, Office Secretary Nurunnaba Arif and Treasurer Tapan Saha were present.