35 victims return from Malaysia

They left their homes early last year in search of better employment opportunities and livelihoods in Malaysia.

But they ended up falling into the hands of human traffickers and endured inhuman physical and mental torture in boats for one to two months in the Andaman Sea before being rescued from Langkawi island by the Malaysian authorities on May 11 last year.

Then they had to spend nine more months in a detention centre there.

Finally, all 35 Bangladeshi trafficking victims returned home from Malaysia last night.

A flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines carrying them landed at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka around 6:10pm, Mustafizur Rahman, assistant director of Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), told The Daily Star.

The returnees are from Cox's Bazar, Tangail, Sirajganj, Narsingdi, Jhenidah, Chuadanga, Satkhira and Madaripur.

With the 35, a total of 656 Bangladeshis returned home from Malaysia since July last year. At least 60 others are still in Malaysian detention centre, according to an official at the Bangladesh High Commission in Kuala Lumpur.

All the expenses regarding the repatriation of the rescued Bangladeshis were borne by the government, the official added.

Talking to this correspondent, some returnees alleged that they had faced serious difficulties in getting food and other basic amenities at the Malaysian detention centre for nine months.

“We were given little food in the detention centre. Besides, the accommodation was not good. We had to do everything -- from bathing and to eating -- at the same place,” alleged Yousuf Ali, 27, of Belkhuchi upazila in Sirajganj.

The medical facilities at the detention centre were inadequate, he added.

Another returnee, Anjan Hossain, said, “Although it was difficult to stay in the detention centre, we were at least safe there.” He hails from Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj.

Some others echoed him.

The returnees were happy as they could finally return home.

“After suffering for one year, I have talked to my wife and three children today [yesterday]. I am very happy that I will be able to lead a normal life again,” said Mostofa, 35, from Satkhira.

Mostafa's wife Nazma Akter, 30, told this correspondent over the phone that she almost had given up the hope of her husband's safe return.

“Three months ago, police came to our home and informed us that he [Mostafa] was alive and now in a Malaysian jail. I was very happy at the thought that my husband would come back home one day.”

Nazma said she had to work very hard to support her three children during her husband's absence.

The other returnees also hoped that they would start their lives afresh again. However, they urged the government to arrest the traffickers and give them exemplary punishment.