PM for punishing those going abroad illegally

Against the backdrop of moving Bangladeshi people to other countries in illegal way, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today put emphasis on bringing them to book for tarnishing the image of the country.

"Side by side with the middlemen, punishment will have to be given to those who are moving from the country in illegal way ...they are tainting the image of the country along with pushing their life into a danger," the prime minister said.

"I think such an unlawful trend may be stopped if the fortune-seekers, who are going to abroad illegally, are punished side by side with the middlemen," she said.

The prime minister made the observation while addressing a meeting of the senior officials of the Labour and Employment Ministry at Bangladesh Secretariat here this morning.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu delivered the welcome address.

Sheikh Hasina asked the ministry to carry out campaign for stopping the illegal migration and human trafficking.

"You will have to conduct publicity and campaign so that the migrant people don't need to give money to the middlemen for going abroad in illegal way and doing this work, they are falling into a trap," she said.

The prime minister said those who are moving from the country by drifting in the sea have no idea where they are going. "Dead bodies are being found from the forests and jungles...it is very unfortunate," she said.

Despite various government steps for sending Bangladeshi workers in legal way, she said, such kind of people are moving to an uncertain destination after giving a huge amount of money to the middlemen.

"It's not true that everybody is moving in this way for want. They are in fact running after 'golden deer' as they think they would earn huge amount of money if they can go abroad," she said.

The prime minister said such type of people are becoming 'mentally sick' while moving to other countries in illegal way in search of money. "They are dying or their life become uncertain," she said.

"They could lead a better life if they do something through the money they are handing over to the middlemen for going abroad in illegal way," she said.