Mohammad Hossain, 32, from Kachua upazila in Chandpur, passed away in Qatar on December 27 last year, after having migrated to Qatar nearly eight months before in hopes of changing his fortune. He could not turn the wheel of fate and returned home as a lifeless body, with his family still unaware of the exact cause of his death.
According to data from the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board, under the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, a total of 4,813 migrant workers’ bodies were repatriated last year.
On average, 400 bodies arrived each month, which means around 13 per day.
In just the first month of this year, 447 bodies were brought back.
The board's records indicate that in the past 32 years, from 1993 to the present, 57,216 migrant workers' bodies have been repatriated.
The data analysis reveals that the number of deaths has been steadily increasing each year.
Officials from the board say many bodies are buried abroad instead of being repatriated, adding that some families choose not to bring the bodies back, in which case, with family consent, the respective embassies arrange for the burial overseas.
When a body is repatriated, the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board provides Tk35,000 for burial and transportation expenses through the Expatriates' Welfare Desk at the airport. The board also assists in bringing bodies back from abroad.
Statistics show that since 2005, the number of deceased migrant workers being repatriated to Bangladesh has been steadily increasing.
In 2005, a total of 1,248 bodies were brought back, which rose to 1,402 in 2006, 1,673 in 2007 and 2,098 in 2008.
The numbers continued to climb, reaching 2,315 in 2009, 2,560 in 2010, 2,585 in 2011 and 2,878 in 2012.
By 2013, the figure had surpassed 3,000, with 3,076 bodies repatriated, followed by 3,335 in 2014, 3,307 in 2015, 3,481 in 2016 and 3,387 in 2017.
The trend persisted, with 3,793 bodies brought back in 2018, 3,651 in 2019, 3,140 in 2020, 3,818 in 2021 and 3,904 in 2022.
In 2023, the number rose significantly to 4,552, and in 2024 it reached a record high of 4,813.
Most of these deaths occur in Middle Eastern countries, from where the highest number of bodies are repatriated.
Tragic stories
Four years ago, Robiul Awal from Noakhali migrated to Ajman, UAE, to work in construction.
On March 23, he died in his sleep. Doctors later confirmed that he had suffered a heart attack.
Government data classifies deaths caused by illnesses as "natural deaths."
Other than this, most deaths among migrant workers are due to accidents. Despite the increasing number of fatalities, no official research has been conducted to determine their causes.
Available reports suggest that the leading cause of death among migrant workers is brain hemorrhage or stroke.
Many victims are young or middle-aged, typically between 38 and 42 years old, and die within a short period after starting work.
Other causes include heart disease, workplace accidents, road accidents, suicide or even homicide.
No in-depth investigations have been conducted into why the death rate among migrant workers is so high in the Middle East.
There is also no analysis of why so many workers die from strokes or heart attacks.
Migrants claim that in many cases, the cause of death is recorded as "stroke" or "heart attack" to avoid compensation claims for workplace accidents.
Which countries report the most migrant worker deaths?
The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment states that most bodies arrive from Saudi Arabia (highest), Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia and Oman.
Impact on families
The premature deaths of migrant workers severely impact their families. A 2020 study by the Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) found that:
- 95% of families face financial crises after the worker’s death.
- 51% of families lose 80% of their income.
- 81% struggle to access healthcare.
- 61% of children drop out of school.
- 90% of families reduce daily food consumption.
- 48% of families experience depression.
- 40% report sleep disorders.
Harsh working conditions, climate risks
Migration experts believe that the Middle East’s extreme desert climate, coupled with physically demanding jobs, long working hours (12-18 hours), overcrowded and unhygienic living conditions, and severe mental stress, contribute to high death rates.
A 2023 study by the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU) titled "Fatal Heat: Extreme Temperature and Climate Change Impacts on Migrant Workers in the Gulf" found that Bangladeshi workers, particularly in the construction sector, suffer severe health complications due to excessive heat exposure. This heat damages organs such as the kidneys and brain. Climate change is making these conditions worse, increasing the risk of death.
Long-term heat exposure leads to chronic health issues, requiring lifelong medical care.
Besides, rising temperatures put immense stress on the body, worsening respiratory diseases, heart conditions, diabetes and kidney disorders.
Lack of data, accountability
In Gulf countries, the cause of death for one in every two South and Southeast Asian migrant workers remains unknown. Many deaths are certified as "natural causes" or "cardiac arrest" without further investigation.
Despite the significant risks, there is no official record of heat-related deaths among migrant workers.
Shariful Islam Hasan, associate director of Brac, said: "We have repeatedly urged the government to investigate these deaths. Even a small study analyzing a few bodies could reveal crucial insights.”
“Many of these deaths occur because workers lack health awareness. They work 18-20 hours, consume unhealthy food and live in overcrowded conditions. Awareness campaigns before migration could significantly reduce these deaths," he added.
Meanwhile, a senior official from the expatriates' welfare ministry said: "Migrant workers’ premature deaths are a serious issue. Before departure, workers receive a three-day orientation that includes information on climate conditions in the destination country.
“However, investigating causes of death is difficult because post-mortems are conducted abroad, and families usually do not request further examinations upon repatriation."