Family members of 180 migrants, who were said to be living in captivity in the Iraqi city of Najaf, urged the government yesterday to take steps for bringing them back before the Victory Day.
They came from 87 upazilas and spoke at a press conference at National Press Club demanding action be taken immediately by the authorities.
Career Overseas Consultant Ltd, a recruiting agency, promised the migrants lucrative jobs in Qatar but they ended up in a camp in Najaf, where they have been living for seven months, claimed the family members.
They said the workers had all valid documents, including passports and permit from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training, but those were seized while in captivity.
The migrants were also tortured when they implored the captors for sending them back, the family members said.
Zakia Begum, who came from Pirojpur, said: “I paid Tk3.5 lakh to send my son abroad. I do not want the money back, I just need my son here.”
Mamata Mondol, wife of Dashrath Mondol, said: “My husband earnestly requested me to do something to bring him back during our last conversation. He said they do not get food or even drinking water regularly.”
The family members said they contacted the recruiting agency’s owner and also the ambassador of Bangladesh in Iraq, but no step had been taken to secure the migrants’ release or arrange employment for them.
They accused Bangladesh embassy officials of trying to save the recruiting agency.
One of them played an audio clip where Major Genreal Rezanur Rahman Khan, the ambassador, was heard saying: “If your [the migrants] family members sue the recruiting agency officials, nothing will happen as there will be no verdict.”
Families of many victims, who filed cases against the recruiting agency, said they were receiving threats to withdraw the lawsuits.
No official of the agency could be contacted for comments over phone.
CR Abrar, a professor at Dhaka University, said it was the government’s responsibility to do what is necessary for protecting the migrants as they had all legal documents while leaving the country.
Noted lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik said seven months had passed but no action had been taken yet to bring back the migrants or arrange jobs for them.
“It appears that there is no accountability in this country at all,” he added.
