Failed to go to Malaysia: Workers take position in front of overseas ministry

A group of people, who failed to go to Malaysia even after paying substantial amounts of money to the recruiting agencies, has been demonstrating in front of the building of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry in Dhaka's Eskaton area.

The aspiring migrant workers started to march towards the ministry at 11:50am from Karwan Bazar.

Being unable to leave for Malaysia within the specified time frame, hundreds of workers were gathering at Karwan Bazar roundabout to form a human chain around 9:30am with a single demand -- they want to go to Malaysia.

Photo: Md Abbas

Around 11:15am, police intervened, pushing the protesters to one side of the road to clear the area, our staff correspondent reports.

Md Ibne Mizan, deputy commissioner of the Tejgaon Division of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said, "The Malaysia-bound workers occupied the Karwan Bazar roundabout from 9:00am. We requested them to clear the road as there are hospitals and clinics nearby, and patients were experiencing difficulties to reach the hospitals."

He added, "They told us they will make a decision after consulting with other protesters. Since they were unable to provide a decision, we had to remove them from the spot."

Due to the blockade, a severe traffic congestion was created on the busiest road.

Photo: Prabir Das

Kawser, one of the protesters, told The Daily Star that he and his fellows paid Tk 600,000 to the recruiting agencies for this purpose around seven months ago.

He cited government's negligence for the situation.

A protester named Sabbir said, "We contacted the ministry and they said that they will send us by January, but we couldn't travel yet. I borrowed money to go there. Interest on loans is increasing day by day. I can't afford my family expenses. We want to go by February."