Complaints against embassy officials to be investigated
Written complaints accusing diplomatic staff of misbehaving with expatriates will be investigated by the foreign ministry, and guilty officials will face dismissal and legal action, said Prof Asif Nazrul yesterday.
He made the remarks at a cheque distribution event held at the Wage Earners' Welfare Board auditorium at the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Addressing complaints from expatriates about hostile behaviour from some diplomatic staff, he stressed that verbal accusations were insufficient for action against government officials. "Written complaints will be investigated thoroughly, and if proven, legal consequences will follow," he assured.
The event aimed to honour 186 repatriated workers who were detained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for participating in unauthorised protests. Each worker received a cheque worth Tk 50,000 as a gesture of solidarity with the July-August uprising.
After the adviser's speech, chaos erupted as the expatriate workers began voicing their demands, chanting slogans like "We want justice!"
Despite repeated announcements, the crowd remained agitated until Prof Nazrul announced a meeting at the ministry at 3:00pm today to address their grievances.
He invited seven representatives to attend the discussion.
Once the situation was under control, the cheque distribution ceremony resumed, with the adviser ceremonially handing over cheques to a few individuals.
Earlier, Khaled Saifullah from Chattogram presented several demands on behalf of the expatriates. He urged the government to disclose rehabilitation plans for the repatriated workers, adding that many wished to return abroad and needed support to overcome the UAE's entry ban.
Khaled also called for action against embassy officials who allegedly conspired to create lists that led to their imprisonment.
Prof Nazrul acknowledged the workers as "assets and VIPs" of the country, assuring that they would be prioritised for overseas employment opportunities through Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited.
However, he said lifting entry bans imposed by foreign governments was a complex issue.
"We will request the chief adviser to address the matter with the UAE authorities. It was through his efforts that these expatriates were freed; otherwise, many would still be in jail," he said.
The UAE arrests stemmed from protests held on July 19 in solidarity with the anti-discrimination students' movement in Bangladesh.
As UAE law prohibits protests without prior approval, 186 individuals were detained in multiple cases. While they have since been pardoned and repatriated, expatriates claimed that arrests were still ongoing.
However, the Bangladeshi embassy in the UAE said they have no reports of anyone currently detained.
Comments