Family members of nine illegal migrants to Malaysia yesterday demanded the workers be brought back to the country.
The families, all from Sirajganj, said the members did not inform them before embarking on the perilous journey, and they were also coerced into paying money for the migrants’ safety.
The Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) held a press conference yesterday in the capital where the families spoke.
All the families live on meagre earnings but the money they paid ranged from Tk1.20 lakh to 3 lakh.
Speaking at the conference, Sanwar Hossain said he had not heard from his son Nobi Hossain for the last seven months, and paid Tk1.2 lakh which he had borrowed against interest.
“I got a call from my son 17 days after he had left for Malaysia. He said he was facing torture for money and requested me to give the amount to the local middleman in Sirajganj. Otherwise, he said, he would be killed,” said Sanwar.
Rahima, whose husband Shafiq has been in a Malaysian jail for four months, said she paid Tk2.20 lakh but still her husband could not escape arrest.
She said she also borrowed the money against interest and was facing mounting pressure for repayment from the lender.
None of the families went to police to lodge complaint against traffickers or middlemen living in their villages, arguing that such a step would be fruitless.
Kohinur Begum, daughter of Kamrul whose whereabouts remain unknown, said: “Police will not take action against the traffickers. On the other hand they will harass us. In some cases, traffickers bribe the police and thus enjoy impunity.”
G2G re-evaluation suggested
Even though members of only nine families came to the conference, a RMMRU investigation in seven upazilas of Sirajganj showed more than 400 migrants to Malaysia remained missing.
Experts at the conference described such journeys to foreign lands in pursuit of a better life as hazardous, and suggested the government should re-examine the G2G system for manpower export to Malaysia.
They said legal actions should be taken immediately against traffickers in accordance with the Overseas Employment and Migration Act 2013.
The speakers also questioned the role of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies, and recommended concerned efforts be made by three ministries – Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment – to stop illegal migration.
RMMRU Founding Chairman Tasneem Siddiqui, Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Programme Chairman Sakirul Islam, Dhaka University teacher CR Abrar and Ain O Salish Kendra Director Nur Khan were present at the conference.